Vitality Blast 2019 Final, Worcestershire Rapids vs Essex Eagles: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

The Finals’ Day of Vitality Blast 2019 has already witnessed defending champions Worcestershire Rapids and Essex Eagles knock out Nottinghamshire Outlaws and Derbyshire Falcons respectively in back-to-back semi-finals at Edgbaston. The teams will now clash in the final.

The Rapids as good as pulled off a heist in the semi-final: the Outlaws needed to score 11 in 2 overs with 7 wickets in hand, but they managed only 9 thanks to some terrific death bowling from Pat Brown and Wayne Parnell.

As was expected, Moeen Ali lit up Edgbaston with a 3 sixes in his 9-ball 21. Later in the morning, Ross Whiteley smashed 36 in 24 balls to take the Rapids to 147/9. Moeen also returned figures of 4-0-13-1.

The Eagles’ reached 160/5 in the afternoon thanks to an opening stand of 78, off only 49 balls, between Tom Westley (39 in 34) and Cameron Delport (55 in 31). The Falcons, who had surprised all to make their first appearance in the Finals’ Day, were bowled out for 126 against Simon Harmer (4-0-19-4) and Aron Nijjar (4-0-26-3).

There has been some turn on this dry pitch, so expect the spinners – Moeen, Harmer, and Nijjar – to play major roles. Both sides may even field extra spinners to boost their attacks.

Given how they held their nerves at the death against a strong Notts outfit, Worcestershire will probably take field as favourites. They have also had a much-needed break, while Essex will have to play back-to-back matches.

Head to head

This is going to be the first T20 match between the teams.

Key players

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire Rapids): Six matches, 333 runs, SR 178, 9 wickets, 6.90: it is impossible to argue with those numbers. Player of the Match in both quarterfinal and semifinal, Moeen will be the most-watched player from either side.

Cameron Delport (Essex Eagles): Like Moeen, Delport, too, has struck at 172. He has hit a boundary every 2 balls in the tournament (40 fours, 24 sixes in 129 balls), and possesses that rare ability to turn the course of any match in the span of half an hour.

Likely XIs

Worcestershire Outlaws: Hamish Rutherford, Riki Wessels, Moeen Ali (c), Ben Cox (wk), Brett D’Oliveira, Ross Whiteley, Wayne Parnell, Ed Barnard, Daryl Mitchell, Pat Brown, Charlie Morris.

Essex Eagles: Tom Westley, Cameron Delport, Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara, Adam Wheater (wk), Paul Walter, Simon Harmer (c), Aron Nijjar, Aaron Beard, Jamie Porter.

Prediction

Worcestershire to lift the trophy.