Nottinghamshire vs Birmingham Bears T20 BLAST 2026 Match 40, Dream 11 Prediction

Match Preview: A Vitality Blast Clash at Trent Bridge

The Vitality Blast 2026 season rolls on with an intriguing cross-pool clash at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on June 5. Nottinghamshire, refreshed and back on winning terms, will play host to a struggling Birmingham Bears (Warwickshire) side. Scheduled to begin at 11:00 PM IST, this matchup promises high-scoring action on one of England’s fastest outfields. While Nottinghamshire will look to leverage home advantage to climb further up the table, the Birmingham Bears are searching desperately for their first win of the campaign. Below, we break down team forms, player matchups, pitch dynamics, and our top picks for the Nottinghamshire vs Birmingham Bears T20 BLAST 2026 Match 40, Dream 11 Prediction.

Nottinghamshire: Building Momentum at Trent Bridge

Nottinghamshire did not have the most ideal start to their T20 Blast campaign, suffering three defeats in their opening games. However, they bounced back beautifully in their recent match, securing a commanding six-wicket victory over Durham right here at Trent Bridge. Opting to field first, the Notts bowling attack displayed remarkable discipline, restricting Durham to a modest 156/8. George Linde led the charge with a highly economical spell of 2/19, while Mohammad Ali (2/35), Olly Stone (2/25), and Dillon Pennington (1/24) provided excellent support.

The chase was a masterclass in aggressive batting, spearheaded by opener George Munsey. Munsey played an absolute blinder, smashing an unbeaten 88 runs off just 52 deliveries, a knock decorated with nine boundaries and three sixes. Backed by solid supporting hands from Joe Clarke, Jack Haynes, and Freddie McCann, Nottinghamshire coasted home in just 17.2 overs, operating at over nine runs per over. With Munsey finding his rhythm alongside key contributors like Tom Moores—who averages 36.33 this season with 109 runs—Nottinghamshire’s top order looks formidable and ready to exploit the fast-scoring conditions.

Birmingham Bears: Desperately Seeking a Turnaround

In stark contrast, the Birmingham Bears find themselves in a worrying slump, remaining winless after four group stage encounters. Their most recent outing against Northamptonshire at Edgbaston perfectly illustrated their current paradox: a firing batting unit let down by highly expensive bowling. Batting first, the Bears posted an imposing total of 208/7. Beau Webster was the undisputed star of the innings, falling agonizingly short of a century with an explosive 97 off 56 balls, including 10 fours and 5 sixes. Skipper Ed Barnard anchored the middle order with a quick 40 off 25 balls, while Zen Malik chipped in with a blistering 24 off just 10 deliveries.

Unfortunately, defending 208 proved to be an impossible task as Northamptonshire’s Chris Lynn went on a rampage. Lynn’s spectacular unbeaten 115 off 59 balls completely shattered the Bears’ bowling attack, leading Northants to victory with four balls to spare. High-profile names like Chris Woakes, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, and Ed Barnard all leaked runs at over ten runs per over. Only Jordan Thompson (2/39) and Usman Tariq (1/28) managed to find any semblance of control. If they are to stand a chance against a confident Nottinghamshire side, the Bears must urgently fix their bowling discipline.

Pitch and Weather Report

Trent Bridge Pitch Conditions

Trent Bridge is globally renowned as one of the best batting wickets in England, offering true pace and bounce. During Nottinghamshire’s recent victory over Durham, the ball came onto the bat beautifully, allowing Notts to chase down 157 in just 17.2 overs with ease. While the rapid outfield makes it incredibly easy to pile up runs once batsmen are set, the new ball will offer some initial assistance and movement to the seamers. A first-innings target of 180+ is considered par here.

Weather & Toss Prediction

The weather forecast for Friday evening in Nottingham predicts a cloudy sky with temperatures hovering around a cool 17 degrees Celsius. Given the stable, overcast conditions, the toss-winning captain is highly likely to opt for bowling first to exploit any early moisture before chasing down a target under lights.

Head-to-Head Record

Historically, matches between Nottinghamshire and the Birmingham Bears have been fiercely contested. In their last five T20 encounters, the Birmingham Bears hold a slight edge with three victories compared to Nottinghamshire’s two wins. However, current form heavily favors the hosts.

Probable Playing XIs

Nottinghamshire Playing XI

George Munsey, Joe Clarke (c), Jack Haynes, Freddie McCann, Tom Moores (wk), George Linde, Benny Howell, Joe Pocklington, Olly Stone, Dillon Pennington, Mohammad Ali.

Birmingham Bears Playing XI

Zen Malik, Rob Yates, Beau Webster, Sam Hain, Ed Barnard (c), Jordan Thompson, Chris Woakes, Kai Smith (wk), Tazeem Chaudry Ali, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Usman Tariq.

Nottinghamshire vs Birmingham Bears T20 BLAST 2026 Match 40, Dream 11 Prediction

When assembling your fantasy team for this highly anticipated match, it is crucial to balance in-form batsmen with versatile all-rounders who can exploit the conditions at Trent Bridge.

Top Fantasy Picks

• George Munsey (Nottinghamshire): The explosive opener is in red-hot form, leading Nottinghamshire’s scoring charts with 171 runs in four innings at a magnificent average of 57.00. He is a must-have captaincy option.
• Beau Webster (Birmingham Bears): Webster has been the shining light for the Bears, accumulating 153 runs in four innings at an average of 38.25. His recent knock of 97 shows his destructive potential.
• George Linde (Nottinghamshire): An incredibly valuable all-rounder who has grabbed five wickets in three innings at an average of 21.20, while also offering lower-order hitting power.
• Mohammad Ali (Nottinghamshire): Ali has emerged as a reliable strike bowler, claiming six wickets in four matches with a healthy average of 22.33.
• Usman Tariq (Birmingham Bears): Tariq has been the most economical bowler for the Bears, utilizing his spin to claim five wickets in four matches at an average of 21.60.

Match and Betting Prediction

Although the Birmingham Bears boast some of the biggest names in English domestic cricket, including Chris Woakes and Sam Hain, their collective bowling unit has struggled to defend massive totals. Nottinghamshire, on the other hand, look much more balanced after their comprehensive home win. With home advantage, a firing top-order led by George Munsey, and a disciplined bowling attack, Nottinghamshire are heavily favored to secure another victory. We are backing Nottinghamshire to win this encounter.