Somerset vs Surrey, VITALITY T20 BLAST 2023, Today Match Prediction

som vs sur Match Prediction & Analysis

The top two teams in South Group are all set to face off in Taunton, at a venue where Somerset have been undefeated this season. It will be a thrilling encounter between two of the most in-form teams in the T20 Blast. 

The last 4 matches at this venue weren’t really high-scoring. Somerset successfully defended 150 in their last outing here. The weather might get cloudy by the match time and we can expect a bit of help for the swing bowlers with the new ball.

While both teams scored a big total in their respective last games, they will be playing this match after a week-long gap. Given the low-scoring nature of this pitch, bowlers in both teams will hold the key to victory. Sunil Narine and Sam Curran in Surrey and Ben Green and Roelof van der Merwe in Somerset will be expected to deliver crucial breakthroughs.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Somerset Preview

Somerset will be coming into this match on the back of a fantastic home record this season with 4 wins from 4 matches. Their bowlers have been impressive on this ground having restricted the opposition to below par total every time. 

Skipper Lewis Gregory leads an attacking batting lineup that comprises Tom Banton and Will Smeed as openers followed by Tom Kohler-Cadmore at number 3, all of whom are explosive T20 players.

Smeed scored 94 off 35 balls in his last innings against Gloucestershire and prior to that, he scored a 52 off 32 balls knock against Hampshire. Kohler-Cadmore is also in good form and has made consistent contributions at number 3.

He may not be ideal for the number 3 position given he’s an all-out attacking batter who doesnt’ stay around for long to build the innings. Nevertheless, this seems to be working perfectly for Somerset.

In this match, we reckon Sean Dickinson and Lewis Gregory will be key players to watch out for in the Somerset batting lineup. It is not easy to score runs here and these two in the lower middle order will be responsible to deliver a good finish and even build the innings if needed. With the ball, Ben Green has been consistent for Somerset and will lead the attack along with van der Merwe and Josh Davey.

Somerset Predicted Playing XI:

Tom Banton (wk), Will Smeed, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Abell, Sean Dickson, Lewis Gregory (c), Ben Green, Roelof van der Merwe, Craig Overton, Josh Davey, Shoaib Bashir

Somerset Actual Playing XI:

Matt Henry, Tom Kohler Cadmore, Ben Green, Lewis Gregory, Thomas Abell, Craig Overton, Josh Davey, RE Van Der Merwe, Will Smeed, Tom Banton, Sean Dickson

Surrey Preview

Surrey will be eying their fourth consecutive win as they face the table-toppers Somerset in Taunton. The Chris Jordan-led team has scored 200+ runs in their last two consecutive innings. 

Laurie Evans and Sam Curran have been among the top run-scorers for Surrey in recent outings at number 2 and 3. Evans scored 93 off 51 and 118 off 60 and 52 off 36 balls in his last three innings. It is not just the top order of Surrey that is explosive and has great potential.

The likes of Jamie Overton, Tom Curran, and Sean Abbott are also reliable, big-hitting batters in the lower middle order. Abbott scored a brilliant hundred in Surrey’s second game of the season at number 6. 

In their recent successful chase against Kent, Jamie Smith and Sean Abbott scored an unbeaten 6th wicket partnership of 68 runs off 39 balls. It is a mighty batting lineup and will post a tough challenge to the home team.

The spinner Will Jacks and Sunil Narine are in good form and have delivered consistently. These two will play a key role with the ball against Somerset. Along with the spin wizardry of Narine, Surrey also has the experience of Jordan and Sam Curran in the pace department. The visitors have a solid all-round squad with many options in every department and are all set to challenge the table-toppers. 

Surrey Predicted Playing XI:

Will Jacks, Laurie Evans, Sam Curran, Jamie Smith (wk), Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Sunil Narine, Jamie Overton, Chris Jordan (c), Cameron Steel, Tom Lawes

Surrey Actual Playing XI:

Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Thomas Lawes, Jamie Overton, Sean Abbott, Chris Jordan, Sunil Narine, Laurie Evans, Tom Curran, Sam Curran

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It is a balanced pitch that offers assistance to both batters and bowlers. The spinners will enjoy bowling on this surface and will get maximum purchase out of it. The weather is likely to be cloudy by the time the match begins.

Venue Details

The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton will host its 5th match of this season. It is a small ground with shorter boundaries and the batters should find it easy to score big. The average 1st innings score at this venue in domestic T20s is 174 runs. However, this season, no team has crossed 170-run mark batting first at this venue. We reckon, a 180-185 total would be a highly competitive one in this game.

Toss: To Bowl

Though historically teams batting first have had an advantage on this ground, this season, team bowling first have won the majority of the games. Surrey has a deep lineup that has played capable of chasing down a total. Somerset too have an in-form batting lineup that has chased down successfully on all three occasions at this venue so far.