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As the North Group action in the Vitality T20 Blast 2024 continues, the Birmingham Bears are keen to extend their impressive winning streak to five matches as they face Yorkshire. The Bears currently hold a two-point advantage over Lancashire, and with round two kicking off, they aim to solidify their top spot. In their previous encounter in mid-June, Birmingham secured a comfortable four-wicket victory over Yorkshire, a result that will undoubtedly be fresh in the minds of both teams.
Team Previews
Yorkshire
Yorkshire returns to T20 Blast action after recent County Championship matches against Derbyshire and Gloucestershire. The team will be keenly aware of the points they need to secure a place in the quarter-finals. However, Yorkshire has struggled to build momentum, failing to achieve back-to-back victories since early June. Adam Lyth and Shan Masood have shown promise with the bat in recent games. Lyth has accumulated 232 runs in seven innings, including a half-century against Durham, while Dawid Malan, the top scorer for Yorkshire with 244 runs, has had a couple of quiet outings. The focus will be on the middle order to step up, as contributions from the lower order have been lacking. Jordan Thompson has been a key bowler for Yorkshire, picking up 13 wickets and maintaining a consistent wicket-taking form. Daniel Moriarty and Dom Bess also contribute, with Moriarty taking two wickets for 26 runs in his last game.
Yorkshire Predicted Playing XI:
Adam Lyth, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Shan Masood (c), Donovan Ferreira, Jordan Thompson, Matthew Revis, Dom Bess, Jafer Chohan, Conor McKerr, Dan Moriarty.
Birmingham Bears
The Bears have not played since June 21 but are riding high on a four-match winning streak, positioning them at the top of the North Group. They have only dropped points in two of their eight matches and aim to continue their strong run. Sam Hain has been a standout performer with 297 runs, including a significant contribution in the recent win over Worcestershire. Hain’s consistency has been a cornerstone of Birmingham’s success, supported by Jacob Bethell, who has also been in fine form. Danny Briggs leads the bowling attack with 13 wickets, showcasing consistent performances across the tournament. Jake Lintott, with 12 wickets, complements Briggs, forming a formidable bowling duo for the Bears.
Birmingham Bears Predicted Playing XI:
Alex Davies (c), Ed Barnard, Dan Mousley, Sam Hain, Jacob Bethell, Chris Benjamin, George Garton, Craig Miles, Michael Booth, Jake Lintott, Danny Briggs.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The match will be held at Headingley Grounds in Leeds, a venue where Yorkshire has enjoyed a successful run in 2024, winning three out of four matches. The pitch is expected to favor batters, with an average first innings score of 149.8 in the last four games. However, the cloudy conditions might offer some assistance to the spinners as the game progresses. Teams winning the toss are likely to opt to bat first, given the historical success of defending totals at this ground.
Winning Prediction
Birmingham Bears have displayed remarkable consistency, winning their last four matches. While Yorkshire has key players like Adam Lyth and Shan Masood in good form, the overall momentum and depth in the Birmingham squad, highlighted by performances from Sam Hain and Danny Briggs, make them the favorites.
Prediction: Birmingham Bears to win