Samit Patel celebrates with team-mates
Samit Patel celebrates with team-mates

NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final betting tips: Nottinghamshire v Somerset betting preview


After landing a 7/2 winner last night, Simon Crawford has a 14/1 shot for tonight's Notts v Somerset T20 Blast quarter-final.

Recommended bets: Nottinghamshire v Somerset

1pt Samit Patel to be man of the match in Nottinghamshire v Somerset at 14/1 - vastly experienced all-rounder who can be a matchwinner with both bat and ball

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It remains a mystery why such a naturally talented cricketer as Samit Patel is still having to prove his doubters wrong.

The 32-year-old has been given several chances by England, having played six Tests and 36 one-day internationals during which he averaged a modest of 32 but had a strike rate of 95.

However, just one half-century in that time meant he was unable to nail down a regular starting place.

But in county cricket for Nottinghamshire he has been a star performer for more than a decade, becoming a key member of the side with his hard-hitting batting in the middle order and wicket-taking slow left-armers.

This season has been no exception and Patel has played his full part in getting the Outlaws into their third T20 quarter-final in the last four seasons after comfortably winning the North Group.

He has taken 13 wickets at an economy of 7.02, including three for 26 against Durham and three for 29 against Yorkshire. With the bat he has made 261 runs with a strike-rate of 148.29 with a best of 77 not out against the Birmingham Bears.

Players like Patel can make all the difference in Twenty20 cricket where margins are so small.

Notts have learned how to get the best out of him and are reaping the rewards to such an extent that his name has once again being linked with a spot in the England squad.

It appears you can't keep a good player down and an easily available 14/1 for him to be named man of the match against Somerset looks like a gamble worth taking.

Posted at 1300 BST on 23/08/17.

Where to watch on TV: Sky Sports Cricket

Related links

Sky Bet's latest match odds
England v West Indies: 2nd Test guide