Surrey vs Middlesex Preview & Prediction

Openers Malan and McCullum will look to share the responsibility of taking their team off to a good start. Malan made 93 off 48 balls against Hampshire and 34 in the last match against Essex. Stirling and Morgan will also be coming into this match with good knocks. So the top four will hold the key for Middlesex, and if McCullum gets back to his attacking old self, it will get easier for the rest of the batsmen to score runs as well.

Mitchell McClenaghan announced his arrival in great style, picking up four wickets in his first game of the season against Essex. The Kiwi speedster also had an excellent IPL and he is likely to cause the maximum damage with the ball on Friday. James Franklin is another Kiwi fast bowler who is expected to trouble the Surrey batsmen. Stirling has taken a wicket in every match and his off-breaks could be difficult to read at the Kennington Oval.

Our Prediction

Middlesex have never qualified for the knockout stages, but they stand a good chance this year with their current team composition. With the likes of McCullum, Morgan, all-rounder Stirling and bowling spearhead McClenaghan in the side, Middlesex have already begun the tournament on a high with two wins in three games.

Surrey have been equally good this year as well with three wins in five games. They will enjoy the home advantage against Middlesex as they have beaten them here in the previous two editions. Also, the two teams have gone head-to-head four times with Surrey leading 3-1.

Although Middlesex are a strong team and should be written off only at one's own risk, Surrey's record against them at the Kennington Oval makes us confident enough to back them for a win on Friday.