Surrey could teach young Bears a lesson

Surrey v Birmingham
Sky Sports Cricket, 7pm Friday

Surrey have been masters of the tight finish in this summer’s
T20 Blast and they ended the South Group campaign with a ten-run win over Kent and a two-wicket victory – chasing just 131 – against Gloucestershire.

That late spurt was enough to earn a home quarter-final against Birmingham Bears, whose top order is barely recognisable from the one that started the Blast.

Ian Bell stood down as captain after being dropped for their final Blast group game as exciting young opener Ed Pollock and
new recruits Adam Hose and Dom Sibley forced their way into the side ahead of the former England star.

Surrey were disappointed to lose 21-year-old Sibley, one of their most promising youngsters, and the opener is 4-1 to top-score against his former county.

However, the nerve shown by Surrey’s bowlers in limited-overs cricket this summer suggests they should be too strong for a youthful Birmingham side and if openers Jason Roy and Aaron Finch get going then the hosts will be hard to peg back

Recommendation
Surrey
2pts 8-11 Betfair, Hills, Paddy Power