Somerset vs Worcestershire Preview – T20 Blast 2026 | Statz

10th July 2026

Somerset welcome Worcestershire to The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton on Sunday for a T20 Blast clash with both sides fighting for quarter-final positioning. First ball is at 17:35 BST on 12 July.

Somerset sit 8th in the table on 20 points from 10 matches, level with Essex and Glamorgan but needing wins to secure a top-four finish. Worcestershire are one spot above in 7th on 24 points (W6 L4), having won their last two games and sitting in a stronger position. For full match data, head-to-head records and live projections, check the Somerset vs Worcestershire fixture page on Statz.

The Venue

The Cooper Associates County Ground is a batting paradise. Across the last 30 T20 matches here, the average match total is 377.5 and the average first-innings score stands at 193.5. Somerset’s home record since 2021 reads an impressive W25 L9 from 34 T20s, with an average score of 21.9 runs per over.

Seam bowlers have taken 74.8% of wickets at an economy rate of 9.88, while spinners account for 18.3% of dismissals at 8.89. The pitch is tagged as Batting paradise by Statz – expect runs throughout. The most recent T20 at this ground saw Somerset beat Derbyshire by 27 runs on 8 July 2026 (SOM 214/6, DER 187/7).

Form and Table

Somerset – 8th (P10 W5 L5, 20 pts)

Somerset have won two of their last three but remain in a precarious position. They beat Derbyshire convincingly on 8 July and Northamptonshire on 5 July, but the loss to Worcestershire on 28 June still stings – they were chased down from 144/9.

Worcestershire – 7th (P10 W6 L4, 24 pts)

Worcestershire have momentum on their side. Two straight wins – over Glamorgan and Kent – have lifted them clear of the bottom half. Their batting has been particularly strong in recent outings, with Sikandar Raza and Gareth Roderick firing consistently.

Head-to-Head

Worcestershire hold a commanding advantage in this fixture. In their only meeting this season on 28 June at Chelmsford, Worcestershire chased down Somerset’s modest 144/9 with ease, reaching 180/5. That victory is the only data point available, but it shows Worcestershire’s ability to construct successful chases – a skill that will be crucial if Somerset bat first here.

Statz Projections

The Statz projections make this a coin-flip contest with a slight lean to Worcestershire.

If Somerset bat first: Projected first-innings total of 198.9, match total of 382.5. Win probability – SOM 45.5%, WOR 52.5%. First-innings P10-P90 range: 165 to 231.

If Worcestershire bat first: Projected first-innings total of 197.1, match total of 380.3. Win probability – SOM 48.6%, WOR 49.4%. First-innings P10-P90 range: 161 to 231.

Both projected match totals (380-382) sit just below the venue average of 377.5, suggesting the model rates both bowling attacks as competitive. The projected first-innings totals of around 198 are slightly above the ground average of 193.5. Match total P10-P90 range: 330 to 432.

Competition Season Leaders

Orange Cap – Top 5 Run-Scorers

Player Team Runs Inn
Beau Webster Warwickshire 552 10
Alex Lees Durham 465 10
George Munsey Nottinghamshire 460 10
Chris Lynn Northamptonshire 437 8
Aneurin Donald Derbyshire 390 10

Purple Cap – Top 5 Wicket-Takers

Player Team Wkts Inn
Hasan Ali Yorkshire 22 9
James Sales Northamptonshire 19 10
Mohammad Ali Nottinghamshire 19 10
Reece Topley Surrey 18 10
Scott Currie Hampshire 18 10

Somerset Season Leaders

Runs: James Rew – 374 runs, avg 46.75, HS 116 | Tom Banton – 238 runs, avg 29.75, HS 59 | Will Smeed – 226 runs, avg 37.67, HS 89

Wickets: Daniel Sams – 11 wkts, best 2 | Craig Overton – 10 wkts, best 3 | Jake Ball – 9 wkts, best 3

Worcestershire Season Leaders

Runs: Sikandar Raza – 258 runs, avg 28.67, HS 47 | Adam Hose – 237 runs, avg 23.7, HS 50 | Gareth Roderick – 227 runs, avg 22.7, HS 71

Wickets: Usama Mir – 16 wkts, best 3 | Matthew Waite – 13 wkts, best 3 | Adam Finch – 12 wkts, best 3

Predicted XIs

Somerset (based on XI vs Derbyshire, 8 Jul 2026)

  1. Will Smeed
  2. Thomas Rew (wk)
  3. James Rew
  4. Tom Kohler-Cadmore (c)
  5. Lewis Goldsworthy
  6. Daniel Sams
  7. Joshua Thomas
  8. Craig Overton
  9. Josh Shaw
  10. Riley Meredith
  11. Jake Ball

Worcestershire (based on XI vs Kent, 3 Jul 2026)

  1. Isaac Mohammed
  2. Kashif Ali
  3. Gareth Roderick (c)
  4. Adam Hose (wk)
  5. Henry Cullen
  6. Beyers Swanepoel
  7. Matthew Waite
  8. Usama Mir
  9. Tom Taylor
  10. Ben Allison
  11. Fateh Singh

These lineups are based on the most recent match for each team. Always check the fixture page on Statz for toss updates and confirmed XIs on match day.

Dream11 Tips – Captain and Vice Captain

Based on projected fantasy points for players in the most recent XIs:

Captain: Tom Taylor (WOR) – projected 92.8 pts. The all-rounder is a dual threat with projected runs of 11.3 and 1.52 wickets per game. His consistency across both disciplines makes him a premium captain choice.

Vice Captain: Sikandar Raza (WOR) – projected 92.7 pts. Worcestershire’s standout batter with 258 season runs at 28.67. Projected for 23.5 runs when batting second with genuine all-round value through his occasional bowling.

Also consider:

Key Players

James Rew (Somerset)

Somerset’s standout batter this season. With 374 runs at an average of 46.75 and a high score of 116, Rew has been the anchor of the Somerset innings. His last three scores of 36, 30 and 2 show he can struggle on occasion, but his 87.5% hit rate for 20+ runs across the season is elite. The Statz bet builder shows he has reached 30+ runs in 62.5% of his matches – a player who can single-handedly shift the momentum of a T20.

Sikandar Raza (Worcestershire)

Worcestershire’s most important player. Raza has 258 runs at 28.67 with a high score of 47, and he brings genuine all-round value. His 66.7% hit rate for 20+ runs and 44.4% for 30+ runs shows he can accelerate when needed. Against Somerset, he will be the focal point of Worcestershire’s batting strategy.

Usama Mir (Worcestershire)

Worcestershire’s leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets from 10 matches. Mir has taken at least one wicket in 90% of his games this season – an extraordinary consistency rate. His last three matches yielded 3, 2 and 2 wickets respectively. Against a Somerset batting lineup that has struggled for consistency, Mir’s leg-spin could prove decisive.

Daniel Sams (Somerset)

Somerset’s leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets from 10 matches. Sams provides balance as a left-arm quick who can also contribute with the bat. His 60% hit rate for 1+ wicket and 50% for 2+ wickets shows he is a reliable source of breakthroughs. He took 2 wickets against Worcestershire in their head-to-head clash.

Conditions

Overcast skies are forecast for Taunton with temperatures around 21 degrees and humidity at 65%. A 20% chance of rain is present, though no significant precipitation is expected. Wind is light at 3.2 km/h from the south-west – conditions that should remain stable throughout the evening.

Verdict and Betting Angles

This is a tight contest on paper. The Statz projections give Worcestershire a slight edge at 51% win probability, reflecting their superior form and the fact they have already beaten Somerset once this season. However, Somerset’s home advantage at a batting paradise ground cannot be ignored – they have won 25 of 34 T20s here since 2021.

The bookmakers reflect the closeness of this match. Indicative odds show Worcestershire at around 1.90 and Somerset at 1.90 as well – a genuine coin-flip. Worcestershire’s recent momentum and their proven ability to chase successfully tips the balance slightly in their favour.

I am leaning Worcestershire here. Their bowling attack – led by Usama Mir‘s 16 wickets and supported by Matthew Waite‘s 13 – has the quality to restrict Somerset. Raza’s batting form and the team’s recent wins suggest they will handle the pressure of chasing if needed.

Bet Builder Angles

Head to the Statz bet builder for real-time hit rates and odds on this fixture: