Lancashire look value at 7-2 to take t20 title

SPORTS BETTING: ACE spinner Graeme Swann did this column a good turn when landing our 7-2 bet to be top England wicket-taker in the fourth Test at The Oval.

And cricket is high on the agenda again this weekend when the final stages of the Friends Life t20 take place.

Peter Moores may have had an unhappy time as coach of England, but he is doing a sterling job with the young guns at Lancashire.

Forced into giving youth its head, Lancashire are top of the LV= County Championship which merely vindicates previous opinion that the importing of players from other counties was a flawed policy.

Lancashire, with a 14-point lead in the Championship, are almost 1-2 on Betfair to win the title. Warwickshire and Durham are next at a shade over 3-1.

But back to Saturday’s big bash at Edgbaston, where Lancashire will slug it out alongside Hampshire, Somerset and Leicestershire.

Cries of ‘Oh Lanky, Lanky” will no doubt be heard in Birmingham and there is every chance that the Red Rose will overcome Leicestershire in their 11am semi-final showdown.

The other two counties play at 2.30pm, with the winners taking part in the final under floodlights at 6.45pm. Lancashire, at 7-2, are on a roll, have every chance and should be backed.



MANCHESTER United are down to 7-5 to retain the Premier League title following Tuesday’s impressive 3-0 victory over Spurs.
But their bitter rivals, City, have also been cut to 3-1 following two wins which have yielded seven goals. The Blues are the same price as Chelsea for the title.



ANDY Murray’s victory in Cincinnati at the weekend has caused few ripples in the market for the US Open tennis tournament which gets under way at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
Novak Djokovic, who retired in the final against Muzza, remains hot favourite at 6-4, followed by Rafael Nadal (5-1), Roger Federer (11-2) and our man Murray (6-1).


RECOMMENDATION: Lancashire to win Friends Life t20, 7-2 (Stan James)