Essex opening pair could make solid start

T20 Blast South Group
Sky Sports Cricket, 5pm Saturday
Essex and Hampshire are counties with excellent white-ball pedigree but both have made stuttering starts to this summer's T20 Blast campaign.

Before Friday night's away fixture at Gloucestershire, Essex had taken just two points from four games while Hampshire travelled to Lord's to face Middlesex on a run of three straight defeats.

Hampshire welcome back fast bowler Fidel Edwards after his involvement in the Global T20 in Canada and their squad is packed with internationals.

England's James Vince and Liam Dawson, New Zealand's Colin Munro, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and former South Africa internationals Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott are in the 15-man party for this Blast double-header.

But Hampshire have had all sorts of problems against the new ball in the Blast and Essex openers Varun Chopra and Adam Wheater can be backed to outscore their counterparts.

The pair have put on 48, 56 and 57 in their last three matches while Hampshire were reduced to 32-7 against Glamorgan in their opening game and 6-3 against Kent last time out.

Recommendation
Essex to have higher opening partnership
1pt Evs bet365

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