register to 888sport
888sport time:

Preview Based News

Twenty20 takes centre stage

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 26/07/2009

The Twenty20 Cup moves towards its climax as the quarter-finals get underway on Monday.

Kent, one of the online favourites to win the trophy, take on Durham at Canterbury, while Sussex face Warwickshire at Hove later the same evening.

The Spitfires roared into the last eight in some style as they won seven of their ten games to top the South Division table ahead of Sussex Sharks, despite the much-vaunted opening partnership of Joe Denly and skipper Robert Key not being as destructive as they have been in recent times.

The batting honours this time around have gone to Darren Stevens and Martin van Jaarsveld, who have both recorded three half-centuries in the competition.

On the bowling front Azhar Mahmood has been the outstanding performer, taking 13 wickets, while off-spinner James Tredwell has afforded Key a more than useful slower option.

Durham Dynamos looked to be heading out of the competition after a mixed run of form, but they finally sneaked through thanks to a six-wicket win over nearest rivals the Leicestershire Foxes.

Australia youngster David Warner smashed 44 off just 18 balls in the crucial win and his arrival at Durham following international duty has given his side a much-needed boost.

Can Durham cause a surprise and beat Kent in the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup? - Latest Cricket Betting

The Dynamos' bowling has been the key to their success, with Mitch Claydon the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 16 victims, while Ben Harmison and Neil Killeen have both reached double figures.

Durham's progress is all the more impressive when you consider that England trio Paul Collingwood, Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett have only played one game each in the tournament.

Just as Kent and Durham finish off, Sussex Sharks and the Warwickshire Bears will face off.

Sussex finished as runners-up to Kent in the South Division, winning seven of their ten games, with a run of five straight victories sending them through to the last eight.

Skipper Michael Yardy is the leading wicket-taker for the Sharks with 12 scalps, but all-rounder Dwayne Smith has been his side's stand-out performer.

The West Indian has made 258 runs at an average of nearly 37, as well as taking eight wickets with an overall economy rate just a touch over seven runs an over.

Having reached the quarter-finals, Warwickshire have the added incentive of knowing that finals day will take place at their Edgbaston home.

The Bears made the last eight by finishing second in the Midlands/Wales/West Division, edging the runners-up spot by the narrowest of margins as they beat Somerset by one run in the final round of group games.

Their progress came thanks mainly to the batting exploits of Jonathan Trott, who is the leading run-scorer in the competition with 469 runs at an average of 67, including four half-centuries.

With the ball both and Keith Barker and New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel have taken 15 wickets, but the latter has ended his spell with the Bears due to injury.

online betting