Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Durham v Leicestershire Foxes
Venue: Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street
Date: Friday, July 2, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Durham slipped to their third defeat in four matches in their most recent Blast outing. Facing Northants Steelbacks, Durham struggled to break the opening partnership of Ricardo Vasconcelos and Ben Curran, before being bowled out for a poor 143 in pursuit of 174 to win. Only three players - Sean Dickson, Scott Borthwick and Matty Potts - reached double-figures. However, despite their poor run of form, they remain fourth in the North Group with five wins and four defeats.
Leicestershire are also on a poor run of form. After winning three matches in six days, the Foxes have had the wind knocked out of their sails with a run of three successive defeats at the hands of Worcestershire Rapids, Northants Steelbacks, and Notts Outlaws. Against Nottinghamshire, they struggled with the bat, posting just 154 - a total which was never going to be enough against the Outlaws - before being chased down by the mercurial Samit Patel.
Who’s in form?
Surprising as it may seem, Potts was actually Durham's standout batter against Northants, contributing a team-leading 40 runs from 26 deliveries in a fine display of tailend resistence. Potts is also his side's leading wicket-taker with 13 dismissals and an economy of 8.56.
Ben Stokes is slowly returning to his former self. Although he struggled against Northants, taking 2 for 37 and scoring a 10-ball duck, he has 95 runs in five innings and seven wickets, including a four-for. And then there's Liam Trevaskis, Durham's cheapest bowler with an economy of 6.71.
For Leicestershire, Harry Swindells and Ben Mike have impressed with the bat of late, scoring 36 (34 balls) and 27 (28), respectively, to help drag their side towards a 150+ total against Notts. Mike now has 124 runs in nine innings, making him the seventh Fox to reach triple-figures for the season, whiel Swindells has 68 runs at a strike rate of 147.82 in two appearances.
Despite not firing for a couple of match, Josh Inglish remains Leicestershire's leading run-scorer with 336 runs while Naveen-ul-Haq has a competition-leading 19 wickets to his name, including the scalps of Notts duo Alex Hales and Peter Trego.
What’s the team news?
Durham have made no changes from the 13-man squad that fell to defeat against the Steelbacks on Wednesday.
Durham: Cameron Bancroft, David Bedingham, Scott Borthwick, Harry Crawshaw, Jack Campbell, Graham Clark, Brydon Carse, Sean Dickson, Ned Eckersley, Matthew Potts, Stuart Poynter, Ben Raine, Ben Stokes
The Foxes have retained the same 14-man squad that were most recently defeated away by Notts Outlaws.
Leicestershire Foxes: Colin Ackermann, Ed Barnes, Will Davis, Gavin Griffiths, Lewis Hill, Josh Inglis, Arron Lilley, Ben Mike, Naveen-ul-Haq, Rishi Patel, Callum Parkinson, Scott Steel, Harry Swindells, Nick Welch
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Durham: LWLLW
Leicestershire Foxes: LLLWW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 33
Durham wins: 18
Leicestershire Foxes wins: 13
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 4
No result: 2
Latest Leicestershire Foxes news
What’s the weather forecast?
It's set to be a cool, cloudy but most importantly dry evening at Chester-le-Street - you can follow the live forecast from the Met Office: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
There are a limited number of tickets available on the gate.
Click here to access the Durham box office.
Travel
Address: Durham County Cricket Club, Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, DH3 3QR
By car: The ground is situated a mile outside Chester-le-Street. There are two car parks at the ground.
The Emirates Riverside has a designated drop-off and pick-up point for all cars and taxis.
A road closure may be in place on B1284 Rotary Way immediately after play finishes. The club say it is advisable for vehicles to be at the pick-up point approximately 15 minutes before close of play. All vehicles must turn left when exiting from the pick-up point.
Details regarding road closures for major events will be made available on the Durham CCC website two to three weeks prior to the event taking place.
By public transport: Chester-le-Street rail station is served by Northern Rail, CrossCountry & First TransPennine trains. The station is a 20-minute walk from the ground. East Coast services stop at both Durham and Newcastle instead.
There is a shuttle bus service available from Durham Station to and from Emirates Riverside.
Several buses beginning their journeys in Newcastle stop near the Riverside.
How do I follow the match?
Durham will be streaming the game via their official website. Click here for their match centre.
All T20 Blast matches are available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Prediction?
A tough call but with the Foxes without a win in three, Durham should edge this encounter.
NORTH GROUP
Birmingham Bears v Notts Outlaws
Yorkshire Vikings v Lancashire Lightning
Derbyshire Falcons v Worcestershire Rapids
SOUTH GROUP
Hampshire Hawks v Gloucestershire
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