The highly anticipated semi-final of the Vitality Blast 2024 is set for 14th September at Edgbaston, Birmingham, where defending champions Somerset will take on Surrey. Somerset faces a tough challenge as their star player Tom Banton suffered a twisted ankle during a football warm-up. The match will commence at 3:30 pm local time, and both teams will be eager to secure a place in the final.
Surrey’s Road to the Semi-Final
Surrey earned their place in the semi-final by defeating Durham in the quarterfinals at Kennington Oval, London. Surrey’s bowlers restricted Durham to 162/8, with Daniel Worrall and Reece Topley each taking two wickets. Dominic Sibley’s 67 and Sam Curran’s 52 forged a vital 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket, helping Surrey win by 5 wickets.
Somerset’s Quarter-Final Performance
Somerset’s quarter-final saw them post a dominant total of 215/3 against Northamptonshire. Tom Banton scored 75, sharing a 125-run partnership with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who added 63 runs. The pair hit five sixes each. Somerset captain Lewis Gregory then led the bowling attack, taking 3 wickets for 35 runs, as Somerset clinched a 17-run victory to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
Head-to-Head in Group Stage
Both teams faced each other twice in the group stage. Surrey triumphed in the first encounter, with Jamie Smith’s blistering 87 off 38 balls securing a 57-run win. Somerset, however, bounced back in the second game, despite half-centuries from Surrey’s Rory Burns and Sam Curran. Somerset chased down the target with 6 wickets in hand and an over to spare.
Surrey Preview
Surrey will be relieved to hear about Tom Banton’s injury but won’t take things lightly. Will Jacks will open the batting alongside Dominic Sibley. Jacks has 129 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate of 167.53, while Sibley has amassed 221 runs in 10 games. Laurie Evans, batting at number three, has scored 257 runs in 14 games but is yet to score a half-century this season. Sam Curran, batting in the middle order, will be a key player, having scored 237 runs in 5 games at an average of 59. His brother Tom is Surrey’s leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets at an average of 13.06.
Daniel Worrall and Reece Topley will lead the pace attack, with both players taking two wickets each in the quarterfinals. Sam Curran and Chris Jordan will further strengthen the bowling, although neither has yet made a significant impact. Jordan Clark, with 11 wickets in 10 games, could also feature.
Somerset Preview
Somerset’s hopes for the semi-final largely depend on whether Tom Banton will recover in time. Banton is the team’s top run-scorer with 515 runs, including four half-centuries. Will Smead, with 252 runs in 10 games, will open alongside him. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, the player to watch if Banton misses the match, has 365 runs in 14 innings. Somerset’s middle order features Tom Abell, Sean Dickson, and skipper Lewis Gregory, with Dickson playing a crucial 30 off 13 balls in the quarterfinal.
On the bowling front, Ben Green leads with 21 wickets, although his economy rate exceeds 11. Craig Overton and Jake Ball have taken 21 wickets combined this season, but none of the Somerset bowlers have an economy under 8.
Fantasy XI:
Wicketkeepers:
Tom Banton (if fit, otherwise Will Smeed)
Batters:
Will Jacks
Dominic Sibley
Tom Kohler-Cadmore
All-rounders:
Sam Curran (Captain)
Lewis Gregory (Vice-Captain)
Tom Curran
Bowlers:
Daniel Worrall
Reece Topley
Ben Green
Craig Overton
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The match will be played at Edgbaston, which has hosted 50 Test matches, 7 T20 Internationals, and 55 One-Day Internationals. The pitch is renowned for its batting-friendly surface, with good pace and bounce that favors stroke play. The weather forecast predicts cloudy and humid conditions, with a chance of rain. Temperatures are expected to range between 7°C and 16°C.
Toss Prediction
The toss will be crucial, and the team winning it is likely to opt for batting first. In 8 T20Is this season, 6 teams have successfully defended their total. The average first-innings score at Edgbaston is 131.
Win Prediction
Surrey : 55%
Surrey has been consistent, with key players like Sam Curran and Dominic Sibley in good form. They also have the advantage of Tom Banton’s potential absence for Somerset.
Somerset : 45%
Despite the uncertainty around Tom Banton’s injury, Somerset has strong performers like Lewis Gregory and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, giving them a solid chance.
If Banton plays, this prediction could shift slightly in Somerset’s favor.
