Match Overview :
Birmingham Bears will take on Gloucestershire in the final quarterfinal of the Vitality T20 Blast 2024. The winner of this match will secure a spot in Finals’ Day. Birmingham was the standout team in the North Group with 10 wins from 14 matches. On the other hand, Gloucestershire barely qualified, finishing with 7 wins in the South Group.
Recent Form
Birmingham Bears: W L W L W
Gloucestershire: W L L W W
Likely Playing XIs
Birmingham Bears:
Batters: Sam Hain, Jacob Bethell
All-rounders: Moeen Ali, Dan Mousley
Wicketkeepers: Alex Davies, Chris Benjamin
Bowlers: Jacob Lintott, Zakary Foulkes, Danny Briggs, Craig Miles, George Garton
Gloucestershire:
Batters: Miles Hammond, Jack Taylor, Ben Charlesworth
All-rounders: Beau Webster, Ollie Price
Wicketkeepers: James Bracey, Cameron Bancroft
Bowlers: Josh Shaw, David Payne, Tom Smith, Matt Taylor,
Key Performers – Birmingham Bears
Moeen Ali:
Moeen Ali made a comeback towards the end of the group stage, scoring 103 off 59 balls in his last match. He has contributed with both bat and ball, making him a significant player for the team.
Innings: 4
Runs: 178
Average: 44.50
Strike Rate: 166.35
Fifties/Hundreds: 1/1
Danny Briggs:
Danny Briggs led the wickets tally during the group stages with 27 wickets in 14 matches, making him a crucial bowler.
Innings: 14
Wickets: 27
Strike Rate: 12.00
Economy Rate: 6.40
Average: 12.81
Players to Watch – Birmingham Bears
Sam Hain:
Sam Hain has been a standout batter with 554 runs at an average of nearly 70. His form at the top of the order makes him a dangerous player for this match.
Jacob Bethell:
Jacob Bethell performed well in the group stage and continued to impress in the Hundred, contributing with both bat and ball.
Key Performers – Gloucestershire
Matt Taylor: Matt Taylor has been an essential part of Gloucestershire’s bowling unit, taking 23 wickets in 13 matches.
Innings: 13
Wickets: 23
Strike Rate: 12.86
Economy Rate: 7.03
Average: 15.08
Miles Hammond: Miles Hammond has been consistent at the top of the order, scoring 392 runs in 14 innings, making him a key player for Gloucestershire.
Innings: 14
Runs: 392
Average: 30.15
Strike Rate: 131.98
Fifties: 2
Players to Watch – Gloucestershire
David Payne: David Payne has been leading the Gloucestershire bowling attack with an impressive economy rate of 6.60, playing a key role in their success.
Jack Taylor: Captain Jack Taylor has been in excellent form with the bat, averaging 30.09 with a strike rate nearing 160. He will be crucial for Gloucestershire’s batting lineup.
Head-to-Head Record
Matches Played: 14
Birmingham Bears Won: 8
Gloucestershire Won: 4
No Result: 2
The last two encounters in 2020 were both won by Gloucestershire, but overall, Birmingham holds the edge.
Venue and Pitch Report
The match will take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, which will also host Finals’ Day. Edgbaston has favored teams batting first, with 6 wins out of 8 for teams choosing to set a target. Birmingham Bears have an excellent record at home, winning all 5 matches where they batted first after winning the toss. The average first-innings score at the venue has been 182, indicating it’s a high-scoring ground.
Match Prediction
Gloucestershire’s strength lies in their bowling, but their batting lacks the same firepower as Birmingham Bears. With experienced international players and a strong batting lineup, Birmingham is favored to win this match. The prediction gives Birmingham Bears a 70% chance to progress to Finals’ Day.
Fantasy XI Picks
Batters: Sam Hain (c), Miles Hammond, Jack Taylor
Wicketkeepers: Cameron Bancroft, Alex Davies
All-rounders: Moeen Ali (vc), Beau Webster, Dan Mousley
Bowlers: David Payne, Matt Taylor, Danny Briggs
Backup Players: Batter: Jacob Bethell
Wicketkeeper: James Bracey
All-rounder: Ollie Price
Bowler: George Garton
