Season 7
Round 14 preview
This season's competition has been one of the closest yet. But as the season as gone along, the divide between title contenders and the back of the pack has grown slightly. In theory, there are three spots up for grabs with six teams still in with a chance to reach the finals.
Manchester Thunder v Liverpool Cricket Club
at Manchester - Normal pitch
The last two seasons haven't been the best for Manchester. The days of almost guaranteed finals appearances feel like they are from a bygone era, blurred into time by inconsistent performances. No one embodies this more than Sachin Tendulkar. After five stellar seasons in a row, he was due a bad run. Dropped for the majority of the season, Tendulkar will no doubt be eager to make amends. Nothing less than a big win will do.
Liverpool has continued to enjoy rich success. They sit pretty at the top of the table, finals spot safely secured. Craig Kieswetter has been their batting stalwart with the other batsmen rallying around him while Arul Suppiah has been the surprise performer with the ball. A win in Manchester will assure them of a finals match at home.
Can Sachin Tendulkar produce something special?
Northampton Tigers v Southampton Sharks
at Northampton -
Normal pitch
Northampton, the newest side in the EPL, continue to impress. What they lack in star power, they've made up for in pure determination. Chris Gayle has been providing their rapid start at the top with Steven Finn showing the way as their strike leader. Shane Watson and Ryan ten Doeschate provide excellent balance to their side and the exceptional form of domestic batsmen Mark Stoneman has only proved to boost their chances. A win will secure their place in the top four.
In Round 9, a loss to Nottingham sent the defending champs to the bottom of the table. When Southampton were thumped by Manchester in Round 10, to many it was game over. Now, however, Southampton find themselves back in the top four, back on track to defend their title. Kevin Pietersen's resurgent batting has inspired his men to scrap their way back. Their only issue is a poor net run rate so a win is an absolute must to avoid it coming into the equation.
Shane Watson will want to end his recent form slump
Birmingham Bucks v Nottingham Outlaws
at Birmingham -
Normal pitch
Runners-up last season, potential wooden spooners this season. Birmingham will want to quickly forget this and look towards next season. Their bowling has been a contentious issue. With the lack of a genuine strike bowler, opposition were gifted strong starts. This is made more stark when you consider that part time bowler Paul Collingwood stands as Birmingham's second highest wicket taker for the season behind spinner Daniel Vettori. The other thorn in their flesh is the worrying form of Jonathan Trott. Management have not dropped him all season in a bid to help him regain confidence but ultimately without results. Could he be on the way out next season?
Nottingham are another side yearning to return to their glory days. The iron-like dominance of yesteryear is gone and the other teams know this fact well. That said, they are still in with a chance to make the finals. Like Birmingham, they have struggled with their pace bowling, struggling to find a suitable new ball partner for Stuart Broad. Matt Coles and Pat Cummins have been trialled with no immediate success. Inconsistency is again the killer here and a complete team effort will go a long way to extending their season.
Pat Cummins immediate playing future in the EPL could hinge on this match
London Scorpions v Durham Dynamos
at The Oval -
Normal pitch
How things can change in just one season. London Scorpions, the perennial whipping boys of the EPL, sit in second place with the healthiest NRR of any team. Things have just come right this season. A lineup consisting of Virat Kohli, Mahela Jayawardene and Michael Hussey gives their batting strength and with the attack featuring captain Graeme Swann and experienced campaigners Matthew Hoggard and Ryan Sidebottom, they stand together as a solid unit. Regardless of result, London should take their place in the finals.
The return of the Durham franchise has not gone without hiccups. The first half of the season was very much business as usual. But during the second half, the defunct Chelmsford side's form of last season started to rear its ugly head. Credit where credit is due, to take a side that finished last and to shepherd them into a position of respectability is no small feat. With the second best NRR in the competition, a win will see them through to yet another finals.
Misbah-ul-Haq has been an absolute pillar at No. 3 for Durham
