SOMERSET V SURREY LIONS at Lord's (CB40 Final), 17 SEPTEMBER 2011

With Marcus Trescothick (ankle) and Nick Compton (side strain) thought likely to be fit for tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank 40 final, Somerset are now pre-match favourites with the odds-setters. Recent history between the Lions and the Cidermen in one-day cricket also favours the west country outfit.

Somerset's dangers with the bat are Jos Buttler, who has only been dismissed twice in this summer's CB40, Craig Kieswetter, who averages 63.83, and Peter Trego (428 runs at an average of 38.90), their leading run-maker. But the presence of Compton and Trescothick, who are both averaging over forty, is icing on the cake. One of the keys to tomorrow's contest could well be how rapidly Surrey dispose of Somerset's top order.

With the ball, the Cidermen have a number of options, which, as with Surrey, includes spin. George Dockrell - Ireland's young left-arm spinner, has finished the CB40 campaign with an impressive economy rate of 4.43. Arul Suppiah has a knack of conjuring up a breakthrough and, as everyone knows, Murali Kartik is one of the best spinners in limited-overs cricket right now. But, arguably, Somerset's seam attack - led by Alfonso Thomas and Steve Kirby (18 CB40 wickets at 15.66 runs apiece) - is a cut above Surrey's.

Click here for the Surrey v Somerset List A Records sheet as at the start of the 2011 season.

Never before have Surrey played the same opponent more than once in a Lord's final, but that will change tomorrow when the Lions take on Somerset, who beat them in the Benson & Hedges Cup final of 1981. Surrey's Chris Schofield is set to make his 150th appearance in List A one-day cricket. For Somerset, Nick Compton (2,415) and Arul Suppiah (1,467) are approaching 2,000 and 1,500 List A career runs respectively.

The Lions have named a 14-man squad that includes Zafar Ansari, Yasir Arafat, Tim Linley and Gary Wilson. If I was a betting man - what am I saying, I am a betting man - I would reckon on only one of these four making the starting eleven tomorrow. Just to confirm as well, Jade Dernbach will be available after his stint with the victorious England one-day team.

The weather forecast suggests it will be cloudy at Lord's tomorrow, but that we should get a result without resorting to the reserve day. Recent history points to a Somerset victory. Surrey have not beaten the Cidermen in List A cricket since 2003. But the momentum is with the Lions, so, even if my heart is ruling my head right now, I'm going for a Surrey win.

M Trescothick (capt), C Kieswetter (wk), P Trego, N Compton, J Hildreth, J Buttler, A Suppiah, L Gregory, A Thomas, M Kartik and S Kirby.

Trevor Jesty and Tim Robinson. (Third Umpire - Nick Cook.).

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