Surrey v Middlesex: T20 Blast betting preview, TV channel, team news and tips

TV: Sky Sports Cricket, 6.30pm Tuesday

The Oval, London

Surrey had a sobering start to their T20 Blast campaign as they conceded 226-4 in just 15 overs against Essex at Chelmsford and now they must face a Middlesex batting unit boosted by the signing of South Africa superstar AB de Villiers.

Essex's Cameron Delport smashed 129 off 49 balls, putting on 135 in less than seven overs with Dan Lawrence to set up a 52-run win over shellshocked Surrey.

Middlesex had a far more enjoyable meeting with Essex as De Villiers steered them to a seven-wicket win at Lord's with an unbeaten 88 from 43 deliveries.

De Villiers and skipper Dawid Malan must shoulder most of the runscoring burden for Middlesex but they have great bowling depth with Toby Roland-Jones, Steven Finn, Tom Helm and James Harris jostling for places in the pace attack.

Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Australia-born leggie Nathan Sowter are a formidable Twenty20 partnership and Middlesex should trouble a Surrey batting line-up that is heavily reliant on Aaron Finch, 2-1 favourite to top-score.

In Tuesday's North Group game, Yorkshire are 8-15 for an away win at Leicestershire. Those odds look short enough given that Yorkshire lost to Derbyshire by five wickets last time out despite a quickfire 50 from 22-year-old Jordan Thompson, batting at number eight.

Recommendation
Middlesex
2pts Evs general

Team news
Surrey
Jason Roy, Rory Burns and Sam Curran are unavailable after being called up for England's Test match against Ireland.

Middlesex
Ireland opener Paul Stirling is on international duty but fast bowlers Steven Finn and James Harris are fit again.

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