In this article, we preview Somerset vs Essex to be played at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton on June 9, in the Vitality Blast 2021 tournament.
Contents
Match Predictions and Team Previews
Analysis
The two sides last met in Chelmsford on 7 August 2019. Batting first, Somerset put a daunting 225/6 on the board. The innings was built on a quickfire opening partnership of 51 in just 4.1 overs between openers Tom Banton (39 off 17 balls) and Babar Azam. After a couple of quick wickets, Azam continued the good work in the company of Tom Abell. By the time Azam was out for 56 off 39 balls at 150/4 in the 16th over, he had set up the platform for a big score. Byrom put the finishing touches with a blazing 44 off 22 balls, with three fours and four sixes, with accompanying cameos from Roelof van der Merwe, Tom Lammonby and Craig Overton. Barring Ravi Bopara 93/18) and Adam Zampa (2/43), none of the other Essex bowlers gave a good account of themselves.
Chasing 226 to win, Essex were in the game until the 8th over when Adam Wheater departed to leave the scorecard reading 75 for 3. Regular wickets thereafter wrecked the effort and Essex were bowled out for 111 in 12.5 overs. Van der Merwe (5/32) was the wrecker-in-chief, while Max Waller (3/26) also contributed his mite.
For Somerset, Abell, Davies and Bartlett have made consistent runs, while Overton, Gregory and Davey have been among the wickets, though Overton is away on national duty for England versus New Zealand. Essex’s batting has largely revolved around Cook, Westley and Waller while they have relied on Siddle and Harmer to provide the wickets.
Likely XIsp>Somerset: Eddie Byrom, Steven Davies, Tom Abell, James Hildreth, George Bartlett, Lewis Goldsworthy, Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory, Roelof van der Merwe, Josh Davey, Marchant de Lange.Essex: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley, Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater, Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Sam Cook, Shane Snater.
Head-to-Headp>
The head-to-head comparison gives the advantage to Somerset who have emerged victorious in the last five matches between the sides. The solitary win for Essex came nearly four years ago.
Match Predictionp>In our SOM vs ESS match 4 prediction, we believe that Somerset will beat Essex in the match on 9 June. Somerset vs Essex Bettingp>Betting odds are likely to be heavily in favour of Somerset who have beaten Essex in four of the last five matches between the sides. Summaryp>To make our SOM vs ESS match 4 prediction, we have considered the current form of the various players as well as the head-to-head comparison of the teams in recent matches.