Cricket's Twenty20 Cup Gets Underway

It is a long stride down the wicket from the white flannels and genteel relaxation of traditional English Summer cricket matches, but spectators at the series of Twenty20 Cup matches starting today (27th June) will not be denied the aural experience of "leather against willow" – far from it! The regular crack of bat on ball will last for an intense but quick three hours per match as each side bowls their twenty overs apiece, and even that is time-restricted.

The spinning of past traditionalists in their graves may not have entirely stopped but there is no doubting the present enthusiasm for this format of instantaneous cricketing excitement. Commercially, the competition is a success due to the virtual circle of flocking spectators attracting more sponsors and TV coverage, allowing for greater facilities, leading to yet more spectators. Advanced ticket sales are well up on previous years and certain key local clashes have already sold out, eg, Lancashire versus Yorkshire – the Roses clash.

The format is relatively simple. There are three regional groupings of six county cricket clubs apiece. Each county plays three of its five group opponents twice (home and away) and the other two once. Each team therefore plays eight group games. There are tie-breaker rules for separating teams that have the same points, based on number of wins, then higher net run rate, and so on. The top two placed counties at the end of the group matches advance to the knockout stages along with the two "best" third-placed teams from the three groups. The eight survivors are drawn in head-to-head matches with the winners meeting in two semi-finals which are played on the same day as the final itself. This will be held at Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire on 12th August.

Betting for the overall winners of the Twenty20Cup has Lancashire, last year's runners-up, handily placed as favourites at a best 7/1 (8.0) with several layers. Surrey, Essex and Hampshire all vie for second fancied at around 10/1 (11.0) although the odd bookmaker offers 12/1 (13.0). Of course, those three all compete in the South group so this factor alone adds the odd betting point to their expectations as the odds on one of them dropping out of the Cup are increased.

The nature of the short, sharp matches and knockout stages adds a lottery element to the odds. Consequently, even the 18th of the 18 teams is priced at a best 33/1 (34.0) with most firms plumping for an ultra-safe 20/1 (21.0). Derbyshire are the team most favoured not to win but no chances are being taken by the bookies at this stage.

Group betting offers a little more variation. Not every firm is offering odds here but those that are have Surrey, Hampshire and Essex each at around 7/2 (4.5) in the South group; Lancashire a clear favourite at 7/4 (2.75) in the North group; and Warwickshire as slight 4/1 (5.0) favourites over Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Somerset (the 2005 Twenty20 Cup winners) who are evenly priced around 9/2 (5.5). That is clearly a hard-to-call group.

Today's first matches are:

North Group
Derbyshire v Lancashire
Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire
Yorkshire v Durham

Midlands/Wales/West Group
Glamorgan v Worcestershire
Northamptonshire v Warwickshire
Somerset v Gloucestershire

South Group
Kent v Essex
Middlesex v Surrey
Sussex v Hampshire

Most of these individual matches are priced almost at handicap levels due to the possibility of anything happening on the day between similarly-equipped teams. The exceptions are Lancashire (despite no Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff) best priced at 4/7 (1.57) to see off Derbyshire (6/4), Worcestershire (still possessing the batting of Graeme Hick) around 8/11 (1.73) to beat Glamorgan (11/10) and 2003 winners, Surrey (with Mark Butcher leading out the batting) 4/6 (1.67) to beat Middlesex (11/10).

Ed note: Back your hunches at Bet365 and claim bonuses and free bets galore.

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