Twenty 20 finals day tommorrow and Lancashire are favourites to win at 2.75 on
Paddy Power and it is difficult to oppose them. They look very strong with the likely 11 to be Loye,Law,Hodge,Flintoff,Croft,Cross,Chilton,Cork,A nderson,Keedy and Muralitheran. Plenty of international experience there and players like Keedy and Cork have some of the most economical figures in the short history of the competition. What is also attractive is that Croft and Cross who are two of the lesser names where the key figures in the quarter final win against Warwickshire. They add not just strength in depth but match winning experience as well.
They are likely to have the largest and most vocal support on the day and the prescence of Flintoff will probably ensure that most of the neutrals will adopt them as their team as well.
Their semi is against Gloucester who look much weaker on paper. In addition Gloucester's current CC game went to all four days meaning an evening/late night journey from Bristol. Lancs game ended a day early after defeat to Sussex meaning a day off and an easier journey.
The other semi has Kent against Sussex. Sussex are favourites here and also have a strong line up as well as probably the best captain of the four temas in Chris Adams. Kent have had the week off while Sussex where playing Lancs in Liverpool - a game they won. Had the Sussex game gone to all four days it might have given Kent a large boost. Some this is now gone but Kent are a still a useful team who could cause an upset.
I am going therefore for a Lancs Kent final with Lancs eventual winners.
Another interesting side bet may be on Gareth Cross being the top scorer a 34.00 on
Stan James. He has had a good 20/20 season after being picked ahead of Luke Sutton for his explosive batting. He turned the quarter as mentioned before and is better value then the other "big" name Lancs players.