Owais Shah believes the Adventure of Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate can propel Essex Eagles to glory.
The former England batsman, who top-scored in the showpiece as Middlesex defeated Kent played Bopara and Ten Doeschate after linking Essex afterwards in his profession.
The set put together an unbroken stand of 60 to guide Essex to a shock quarter-final triumph Lancashire – and Shah has tipped when the tournament reaches its climax, live on Sky Sports Cricket on Saturday them to glow.
“What showed that there, against a really tough Lancashire group, was the adventure of Ravi and Tendo, who awakened and looked really impressive,” said Shah. “I’ve played with them and I know how they operate.
“Essex are likely favourites to win it for me personally since they have as much expertise in one-day championships , they have a very balanced middle order and a lot of T20 games are won there.
“If it is a big day, your big gamers do not become nervous and boys like Ravi and Tendo have played big tournaments all over the planet, so they will draw on those experiences and they will understand what’s required.
“It doesn’t matter how talented that your team is – it is about how calm you can remain and your capacity to do in front of 20,000 individuals. That’s what happens a great deal of courage and these boys have it.”
Essex, that choose outsiders Derbyshire Falcons at the second semi-final, have to win the trophy despite four previous appearances at Finals Day.
However, the Eagles go into Saturday’s showpiece event from their last six matches with five wins and a tie, having recovered from a slow beginning in their team to squeeze into the knockout stages on run rate.
“Momentum is enormous and the way Essex played that quarter-final also makes me believe they’ll be tough to beat,” added Shah.
“However, Derbyshire have also been fairly impressive beneath Dominic Cork and they’ll be out to show some people wrong.
“Their captain Billy Godleman’s needed a nice summer – he is leading by example – and Wayne Madsen is also an excellent player, as is Ravi Rampaul. He’s been around a while now and I am sure he will step up daily.”
Holders Worcestershire Rapids face Nottinghamshire Outlaws, who were Blast winners in 2017, at the – a conflict which attracts two members of England’s one-day side.
Moeen Ali, that directs the Rapids’ defence of their title, smashed an unbeaten 121 within their quarter-final success at Sussex, while Alex Hales forged 83 not out to maneuver Nottinghamshire at Middlesex’s cost to the four.
“Obviously it had been the Moeen Ali series at the quarter-final,” said Shah. “I haven’t seen anybody hit the ball so far – each time that he middled the ball six it went roughly 20 rows back rather than simply scratching over the boundary.
“Every opportunity he gets to produce the goods on TV, he’ll definitely be stepping up.
“Nottinghamshire beat my old group from the quarter-final and in the end it was a small walkover, really.
“Hales is an excellent, quality participant and Dan Christian, with a great deal of expertise from the large Bash, the IPL, and other championships, will make them a really tough team to overcome.
“But from these four teams, I am likely to rear Essex to go on and win the tournament – they just have that experienced middle order that are really shooting.”
View Vitality Blast Finals Day 10.30am on Saturday on Sky Sports Cricket.
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