Northamptonshire play host to fellow strugglers Derbyshire in the Vitality T20 Blast on Thursday and Richard Mann fancies the visitors to come out on top in this must-win fixture.
Recommended bets: T20 Blast - Northamptonshire v Derbyshire
4pts Derbyshire to beat Northamptonshire at 6/5
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Derbyshire were one of the success stories of last season's T20 Blast, enjoying a terrific campaign before bowing out at the quarter-finals stage when Shahid Afridi produced a spectacular hundred to take Hampshire into the last four.
However, the Falcons have enjoyed a miserable time of it in this year's competition, losing each of their opening four games and failing to find anything close to what they are capable of.
Their failure to re-sign South African spinner Imran Tahir has certainly proved to be a big blow while injury to classy all-rounder Luis Reece only weeks before the tournament got under way has been another huge loss.
Nevertheless, in Lockie Ferguson and Wahab Riaz they still boast a bowling attack that should be capable of winning its fair share and the former has been one of the few bright spots in Derbyshire's campaign so far.
The experienced Ravi Rampaul has yet to show his best form but if himself and batsmen Wayne Madsen and Ben Slater can start to fire, Derbyshire will surely see an upturn in their fortunes before long.
Specialist T20 coach John Wright was hailed a hero following last season's impressive run in this competition and the vastly experienced operator will be have been encouraged by his side's improved showing against Lancashire at the weekend when only going down by only 12 runs.
While Derbyshire have a few worries surrounding the form of a couple of their key players, things look much worse for Northamptonshire.
The home side have yet to get competitive in their four games so far and come into this on the back of crushing defeats at the hands of Lancashire and Worcestershire.
A chief concern for the hosts has been disappointing run of form endured by the big-hitting Richard Levi, usually a key man for Northamptonshire but coming into this game with only 63 runs to his name from the opening four games.
Ben Duckett has looked in good touch but the bowling has struggled for consistency with star man Rory Kleinveldt taking some frightful hammer, a far cry from his usual high standards.
It is hard to see either of these sides fighting it out for top honours in the latter stages of the tournament but of the two, Derbyshire look to have shown more promise in recent weeks and with the talent at their disposal - particularly in the bowling ranks - they look the bet at 6/5.
Posted at 1620 BST on 17/07/18.
