Vitality Blast 2019, all 8 matches on August 30: Preview, predictions

August 30, the final day of the league phase of the 2019 Vitality Blast, will feature eight matches, at Old Trafford, Northampton, Trent Bridge, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Cardiff, Taunton, and Hove.

Lancashire Lightning vs Leicestershire Foxes at Old Trafford, Manchester

If the Lightning win, they will top the North Division points table and get to play the fourth-placed side in the South Division. The Foxes, already eliminated, can at best aim for a fifth place.

This season: Abandoned without a ball bowled (with toss) at Grace Road

Key players: Liam Livingstone (Lancashire Lightning), Colin Ackermann (Leicestershire Foxes)

Prediction: Lancashire to win

Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Worcestershire Rapids at County Ground, Northampton

The Steelbacks are no longer in the run for the quarterfinals, but they do have a chance of finishing fifth. A win, on the other hand, will keep the Rapids in contention for the second spot.

This season: Match abandoned without toss at New Road

Key players: Rob Keogh (Northamptonshire Steelbacks), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire Rapids)

Prediction: Worcestershire to win

Nottinghamshire Outlaws vs Durham at Trent Bridge, Nottingham

The Outlaws may finish at the top if they beat Durham and the Lightning lose to the Foxes and the net run rate favours them. Durham may hope for a fifth-place finish.

This season: Match abandoned without toss at Chester-le-Street

Key players: Dan Christian (Nottinghamshire Outlaws), D’Arcy Short (Durham)

Prediction: Nottinghamshire to win

Birmingham Bears (Warwickshire) vs Yorkshire Vikings at Edgbaston, Birmingham

Both teams are out of contention. However, the Bears do aspire a fifth-place finish (they are currently fifth), while the Vikings may avoid the ignominy of finishing last in the North Division points table.

This season: Birmingham Bears 177/4 (20) tied with Yorkshire Vikings 177/4 (20) at Headingley

Key players: Jeetan Patel (Birmingham Bears), Jack Shutt (Yorkshire Vikings)

Prediction: Birmingham to win

Essex vs Kent Spitfires at County Ground, Chelmsford

A win will take the Spitfires through. Even a defeat may, provided at most one of Somerset, Middlesex, and Surrey move ahead of them. Essex, on the other hand, have to win – and still hope for a reasonably convoluted combination.

This season: Kent Spitfires 175/6 (20) beat Essex 153/7 (20) by 22 runs at Canterbury

Key players: Adam Zampa (Essex), Heino Kuhn (Kent Spitfires)

Prediction: Essex to win

Glamorgan vs Hampshire at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Hampshire have to win big (seriously big) here and hope for Somerset, Middlesex, and Surrey to lose everything. With 5 points in 13 matches, Glamorgan are scheduled to finish last.

This season: Hampshire 128/7 (20) beat Glamorgan 87 (15.3) by 41 runs at Rose Bowl

Key players: Kyle Abbott (Hampshire), David Lloyd (Glamorgan)

Prediction: Hampshire to win

Somerset vs Middlesex at County Ground, Taunton

The teams are tied on points and share fourth and fifth places respectively, which makes it the most important clash of this round. Somerset are ahead on net run rate (+0.609 to +0.206), but that is not likely to matter.

This season: Middlesex 215/4 (20) beat Somerset 180 (17.2) by 35 runs at Richmond

Key players: Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Babar Azam (Somerset)

Prediction: Somerset to win

Sussex Sharks vs Gloucestershire at County Ground, Hove

The Sharks have ensured a top spot, while Gloucestershire, currently second, will aim to finish there. Expect the Sharks to rest a few key players before the knockouts begin.

This season: Gloucestershire 159/6 (20) lost to Sussex Sharks 163/7 (19.4) at Bristol

Key players: Ryan Higgins (Gloucestershire), David Wiese (Sussex Sharks)

Prediction: Sussex to win