The Cricketer provides all the team news and weather forecasts as the group stage of the competition resumes...
Where: Grace Road, Leicester
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Durham lost by an innings and 18 runs last week against Lancashirey. Bowled out for 180 in the first and 110 in the second innings Lancs only needed to strike a first-innings total of 308 to win the game and leave the rest up to their bowlers.
However, their bowlers took a good amount of wickets between them, Matt Salisbury claiming 4-57. Ben Raine meanwhile took three while the evergreen Chris Rushworth picking up a pair. They’ll need to improve their batting display with only three players scoring over 15 runs, yet, and Alex Lees the only one to go above 27.
Leicestershire also lost in week two after Derbyshire claiming a nine-wicket win at Grace Road. After a poor first-innings effort, the Foxes were batted out of the game by the visitors. Matt Critchley's six second-innings wickets all-but secure the win.
One to Watch: With the bat Harry Dearden looked consistent narrowly missing out on back-to-back half-centuries for Leicestershire. In the bowling department, Salisbury would definitely be worth keeping special attention to with his four wickets against Lancashire.
Team news: James Weighall will have to wait for his Leicestershire debut, as the terms of his loan deal does not allow him to play against his parent club. Ben Slater is also unavailable after returning to Nottinghamshire following his two-week spell.
Weather: It will be cloudy across the four days, with perhaps a little rain on Monday and Tuesday but will see some sunny spells across the game.
Tickets: Match being played behind closed doors.
Prediction: Draw
Where: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Lancashire hammered Durham by an innings and 18 runs to get off the mark in week two. With a first-innings score of 308, contributed by a fine 75 by Josh Bohannon and Luke Wood’s 46, Lancashire batted Durham out of the game. Liam Hurt took four wickets alongside Tom Bailey who took three to help bowl their opponents out for just 110. Nottinghamshire faced having to bat out day four against Yorkshire but fell apart in the final session, losing their final five wickets for 38 runs in 15 overs.
One to Watch: Richard Gleeson was a star bowler for Lancashire with figures of 3-32, which limited Durham to just 180 in the first innings and laid the foundations for victory.
Team news: Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson and Graeme Onions all remain unavailable for Lancs due to injury. Notts could be unchanged, having played two spinners on the same pitch this game will be played on, against Derbyshire.
Weather: Clouds will float above Trent Bridge throughout the game, with chances of rain and darkened clouds on Tuesday.
Tickets: Match being played behind closed doors
Prediction: Lancashire
Joe Weatherley delivered victory for Hampshire at Middlesex
Where: Headingley, Leeds
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Yorkshire triumphed against Nottinghamshire earlier in the week, winning by 90 runs on the final day. Yorkshire scored respectable totals of 264 and 278 with Jordan Thompson showing his class in the first innings and Jonny Bairstow returning to his county with 75 in his second innings.
The Yorkshire bowlers spread the wickets around; however, it was Duanne Olivier and Thompson who both struck gold with three wickets apiece in Nottinghamshire’s second innings. This crumpled Nottinghamshire’s hopes of victory, bowling them out for just 97 inside 30 overs.
Derbyshire also won against Leicestershire by nine wickets after a sensational first innings score of 408 set them up nicely. Matt Critchley that stole the show with 6-73 runs in his 26 overs, limiting the Leicestershire total to just 220.
One to Watch: Critchley will be one to watch with the ball after he took three wickets in just five deliveries, causing a Leicestershire collapse.
Team News: Ben Coad misses out for Yorkshire with a side strain, whilst Matthew Fisher has an abdominal problem. Derbyshire are without Luis Reece due to a minor knock, and Fynn Hudson-Prentice is out with a thigh issue.
Weather: Clouds will be present for the majority of the four days with a few sunny spells, yet, perhaps a small chance of rain.
Tickets: Match will be played behind closed doors.
Prediction: Draw
Where: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Gloucestershire toppled Warwickshire by 78 runs with an exceptional performance that saw Warwickshire bowled out for just 160. Although they didn’t perform as well as they would have liked with the bat after being bowled out for 210 in their first innings, they made up for what was lost with a second innings score of 275, forcing Warwickshire to chase 238. It was Ryan Higgins who took ownership of the game with seven wickets.
Glamorgan drew with Worcestershire after a heaving scoring first few days. Worcestershire started the game off with an impressive 455 whilst Glamorgan replied with 374 of their own. Although they drew, Glamorgan had some great performances, with Michael Hogan and Graham Wagg taking three wickets each in the first innings and Billy Root scoring a sublime 118.
One to Watch: Higgins claimed career-best figures of 7-42 runs to steal the show for Gloucestershire. However, BRoot may have something to say to that after his impressive century included 15 boundaries.
Team News: Lukas Carey replaces Hogan, who is rested for the match in Cardiff, in the only change made by Glamorgan. Gloucestershire could hand a debut to tom Lace, who has joined from Middlesex
Weather: Saturday will say goodbye to the heatwave and hello to the clouds with a cool temperature of 22 degrees throughout. As the week goes on the chance of rain increases with Tuesday expecting a few showers.
Tickets: Match being played behind closed doors
Prediction: Draw
Where: County Ground, Northampton
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Northants have only beaten Worcestershire once in their past five clashes, but that single success did come last year. Last week, Northamptonshire were bowled out for just 67 runs in their first innings, and then 154 in their second as they failed to save the match. However, Ben Sanderson could take a positive away from the display, as he claimed nine wickets and a first five-for of the campaign.
Worcestershire meanwhile drew against Glamorgan after amassing a huge first innings score of 455 with jake Libby scoring 184 and Brett D’Oliveira 174. Joe Leach had another good game with four wickets to his name in the first innings but both teams shook hands after Glamorgan reached 141-7.
One to Watch: Libby will be one to watch this week with his fine stroke play, on his home debut, saw him claim 184 runs in the first innings and 44 in the second. If he is able to set up the game with the bat as he did last week, Northants will be in trouble with their seemingly defenceless batting line-up.
Team news: Simon Kerrigan has joined on a two-year deal and could be immediately involved. Adam Finch is back at Worcester after a week at Surrey but has a thigh problem.
Weather: From Saturday through to Tuesday there will be dark clouds surrounding the county ground with a few light spells of rain during the second half of the game.
Tickets: Match being played behind closed doors
Prediction: Worcestershire
Northants are without Ben Sanderson this week
Where: Edgbaston, Birmingham
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Somerset have beaten Warwickshire in four of the last five meetings. Last time out they took out Northants to make it two wins from two. The Overton brothers inspired the victory with bat and ball as they claimed victory inside two days.
Warwickshire meanwhile lost to Gloucestershire by 78 runs being bowled out for 160 in their final innings. Despite some good starts with the bat, from skipper Will Rhodes scoring 48 and Tim Bresnan ending on 22 not out, it wasn’t enough to chase down the Gloucestershire total. Oliver Hannon-Dalby was prolific with the ball, claiming 12 wickets across the game with two six-wicket-hauls.
One to Watch: If Jamie Overton can persistently be aggressive with both the bat and the ball, he will be one to watch.
Team news: it remains to be seen if Somerset make changes with some of their England players available again. Warwickshire are without Dom Bess and Dom Sibley and could retain the same XI.
Weather: The forecast is extremely cloudy throughout the four days. But it is Monday that both teams should worry about with thundery showers and light winds predicted.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Prediction: Draw
Where: Arundel Castle Cricket Club Ground
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Hampshire beat Middlesex by three wickets, in a nervy encounter as they chase 158 to win on day four. Joe Weatherleyhit 98 runs in the first innings, but it was his resilience second time around which led Hants to victory.
At Chelmsford, Surrey lost by 169 runs to Essex after more poor performances with the bat. Amar Virdi did take 4-85 runs but a brittle batting line-up without a host of players disintegrated as Simon Harmer caused havoc.
One to Watch: Joe Weatherley was superb with the bat in both innings and showed his class in the second with an unbeaten 64 to take his team across the finish line.
Hampshire Team News: Liam Dawson suffered an injury to his right achilles on day two of the last game against Middlesex. A return for the game against Surrey is unlikely after a scan this week. For Surrey, Morne Morkel and Jason Roy are back, while Laurie Evans has extended his loan spell.
Weather: It is looking rather bleak with showers across all four days at Arundel. A result could be in doubt.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Prediction: Hampshire.
Where: St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Kent beat Middlesex twice in 2018, first in June and then in September. Earlier this week, Kent claimed a huge win over Sussex by an innings and 25 runs. Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning sealed the win in the first innings by both hitting double centuries of 238 and 220 respectively, during a club-record stand of 423. Kent bowler Darren Stevens did the rest with the ball by taking took 5-50 runs in his 15 over spell to allow for the rest of his teammates to pick off the tail.
Middlesex lost to Hampshire by three wickets during a tight encounter at Radlett. Martin Andersson batted well in the first innings to accumulate 92 runs in 133 balls, whilst Tim Murtagh impressed with the ball taking four wickets for just 61 runs in an impressive 30 over spell.
One to Watch: Leaning will be back to try and back-up his effort against Sussex.
Kent Team News: Joe Denly and new signing Nathan Gilchrist are in the squad, but Heino Kuhn and Jordan Cox, who has been dropped for breaching Covid-19 protocols, remain unavailable for selection for Kent. Middlesex have made three changes to their squad. Steven Finn and Ethan Bamber are back, with Tom Helm and Tim Murtagh dropping out. Robbie White comes in for the departed Tom Lace.
Weather: The weather is a bit up and down for the week. Sunny spells and showers will be spread across the four days.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Prediction: Draw
Gloucestershire will look to Ryan Higgins to inspire victory
Where: County Ground, Hove
When: Saturday, August 15 – Tuesday, August 18
Lowdown: Essex beat Surrey by a considerable 169 runs during week two. Feroze Khushi played some fine strokes for his 66, a good start for the youngster. But it was Simon Harmer who took centre-stage with 14 wickets, including eight in the second innings as the visitors toiled.
Sussex were trampled by Kent, losing by an innings and 25 runs. The record-breaking partnership between Cox and Leaning broke their resolve and despite Harry Finch's half-century they stood little chance saving the game.
One to Watch: Harmer is showing few signings of slowing down and is already top of the wickets chart.
Essex Team News: Dan Lawrence has left England men’s bio-secure bubble due to a family bereavement and is included in a 14-man squad. Sussex are without seamer Ollie Robinson after his international call-up.
Weather: Yellow weather warnings have been shown around the Sussex County ground, but hopefully the rain will stay away.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Prediction: Essex
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