Lancashire still favourites for Twenty20 finals

Get set for some razzamatazz, glitz and glamour at the Oval this Saturday as the four remaining teams - holders Leicestershire, Surrey, Lancashire and Somerset - contest the semi-finals and final of the Twenty20 Cup.

Lancashire, who have been favourites since the group stages, remain at the head of the betting at 11/8 (2.37) but the fact that they have to play Surrey in the semi-finals, winners in 2003 and runners-up last year, mean they are shaky favourites. Surrey are 11/4 (3.75), while Leicestershire and Somerset, who meet in the other semi-final, are both rated as 7/2 (4.50) chances.

The manner of Surrey's victory over Warwickshire in the quarter-finals will have many people feeling that the London side's name is on the cup again. After their clash with Warwickshire was tied under the Duckworth-Lewis method, Surrey snatched victory in a dramatic bowl-out. Throw in the fact that Mark Ramprakash is still making big runs and that they have home advantage in the semis and final, and it's a slight surprise that they are not favourites themselves.

That honour goes to Lancashire, who eased past Derbyshire in the last eight. Mal Loye did the job with the bat that day, but Lancashire will be hoping for big things from their England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who should relish the chance to relax after the pressure of the Test arena.

The same goes for Marcus Trescothick, who'll play for Somerset against the holders Leicestershire. The defending champions have been to the finals now in each of the three years of the competition and they held off a Middlesex charge in the quarters. Those of you who took the 14/1 (15.00) at the start of the season will be sitting pretty right now.