The Hundred, presented by Cazoo
Thursday August 4 - Friday August 5, 2022, 6.30pm
The Kia Oval and Emirates Old Trafford
Following an opening night clash between champions Southern Brave and Welsh Fire, it is the turn of Oval Invincibles and London Spirit and Manchester Originals and Northern Superchargers to lock horns.
None of the four sides in question - Invincibles, Spirit, Originals or the Superchargers - reached the knockout stages in last year’s inaugural campaign.
As you may have read in my competition preview, I fully expect that to change this year.
Oval Invincibles v London Spirit - Thursday
Unlike the Originals v Superchargers game, I don’t have a strong fancy in terms of a match winner here, so I will look elsewhere for value.
Invincibles wicketkeeper batter Sam Billings has his player performance with bet365 marked up at over or under 29.5 at 5/6 the pair. I would be going over that mark.
That is one point per run, 10 points per catch and 25 per stumping. He should bat high enough to get enough time to secure the money with the bat alone. But, with Sunil Narine and Danny Briggs in his side as quality spin, the stumping chances could come too.
Ben McDermott is a juicy 10/3 to be the London Spirit’s top batter, on offer with betfair. They mark him as the joint third favourite in the market behind Adam Rossington, Daniel Bell-Drummond and alongside Zak Crawley.
Compare that to bet365 (13/5) and Ladbrokes (11/4), who both have him as their favourite.
I agree with the latter two companies, so would be snapping up the 10/3.
It would be a surprise if the Australian doesn’t open, as he did for Hampshire in their recent Vitality Blast title success. In his last four innings for them inside the last month, he posted 30, 61, 31 and 62.
Manchester Originals v Northern Superchargers - Friday
Having tipped Manchester to win the men’s competition, it will not surprise you to read that I believe they will get their campaign off to a winning start against the Superchargers at Old Trafford.
SpreadEx are offering the best price of 19/20 for Jos Buttler, Andre Russell and co to do so.
In my competition preview, I was writing out the paragraphs, starting, ‘Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to finish top tournament wicket-taker at 28/1′.
It was only when I came across his limited availability at the back end of the tournament due to international duty that I steered clear. But I think he’s a fantastic bowler, who is ideally suited to the spin-friendly conditions at Old Trafford.
He was only one wicket behind IPL leading bowler Yuzvendra Chahal and returned us money as Bangalore’s leading wicket-taker.
So I’m more than happy to take up the bet365 price boost on him to be the Originals’ top bowler in this match at 4/1, up from 10/3.