Worcestershire Rapids vs Lancashire Lightning Prediction: Rapids can prolong Lancashire’s misery

Worcestershire Rapids and Lancashire Lightning face off in a crucial T20 Blast North Group clash at New Road on Friday evening (17:30 BST), with both sides seeking momentum as the race for quarter-final spots intensifies. Neither team can afford to slip up, with Lancashire aiming to complete a season double after edging the Rapids by seven runs in a thriller at Old Trafford in May.

The Rapids, meanwhile, are looking to build on their impressive win over Nottinghamshire Outlaws and will want to put on a good display in front of a passionate Worcester crowd. Below you can find my Worcestershire Rapids vs Lancashire Lightning predictions.

Team News

Worcestershire are expected to stick with the core that beat the Nottinghamshire Outlaws last week, with club captain Brett D’Oliveira anchoring the top order and Adam Hose providing middle-order firepower. Overseas duo Jacob Duffy and Ben Dwarshuis provide the right and left-arm penetration in the bowling department.

Cricket Odds

Lancashire welcome back Luke Wood from England duty to bolster a seam attack led by James Anderson. Phil Salt remains on paternity leave, so Keaton Jennings will again be partnered by Luke Wells at the top of the order, with Ashton Turner and Liam Livingstone providing the finishing power.

Worcestershire Rapids vs Lancashire Lightning Odds

Lancashire are 8/13 to end their two-match losing skid with a win over Worcestershire at New Road on Friday night, while the Rapids are 5/4, or a 44.4% chance, to build on their authoritative opening win over Nottinghamshire.

Jennings has scored more runs than anyone else in the Blast to date (June 11), and he is 14/5 to lead the way for the hosts again.

Worcestershire Rapids to win @ 5/4

Lancashire have the overall head-to-head edge in this matchup, having won six of the last 10 meetings with Worcestershire in the Blast.

However, the Rapids have won each of the last four clashes at New Road and bring better form into this fixture, having won their last game, while the Lightning arrive after back-to-back defeats.

The return of Wood should help them penetrate in the powerplay, but Lancashire have not had much success in the spin department this season, and a lack of variety in their attack could cost them.

Adam Hose – Top Home Batter @ 14/5

Hose has compiled scores of 54, 27 and 95 in his last three innings, top scoring in the Rapids’ recent win at Nottingham.

He was the second-highest run scorer in the team against Northants and Yorkshire, with his only real failure with the bat in this competition coming at Old Trafford when he miscued a pull to short fine leg.

Liam Livingstone — Over 17.5 Runs @ 5/6

Livingstone made 18 on his return to Lancashire colours last weekend and will enjoy the relatively flat batting track at New Road, should he get in.

The former England regular is just back from a successful stint in the Indian Premier League, where he made 25 in the final as the Royal Challengers Bangalore won the title.

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