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: Birmingham Bears v Notts Outlaws
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Date: Friday, July 2, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Birmingham's away form has been excellent, so their home victory over Yorkshire - a ten-wicket shellacking - on Wednesday evening was a big moment for Mark Robinson's men, who closed the gap on the top two in the process.
Nottinghamshire, meanwhile, have been as dominant as one might expect of the defending champions, whose batting line-up is as fierce as they come in English white-ball cricket. They will be tested, however, by a wily Bears bowling attack that features Carlos Brathwaite, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs and Jake Lintott.
On a poignant evening, Edgbaston will be honouring the careers of club legends Ian Bell, Jeetan Patel and Tim Ambrose.
Who’s in form?
That bowling attack faces a serious challenge of its own, given the power-hitting built into Nottinghamshire's side. Alex Hales and Joe Clarke have a hundred each so far this campaign, while Ben Duckett and Tom Moores add plenty of extra firepower. Samit Patel has enjoyed a decent competition, including record-breaking bowling figures in an earlier win over Worcestershire.
For Birmingham, Sam Hain is averaging 48 with the bat in this year's tournament, making him a likely shoo-in for a Hundred wildcard spot, having dramatically upped his strike rate on previous years, while Brathwaite is the Blast's leading wicket-taker.
What’s the team news?
The Bears have retained the same 13-man squad that inflicted a heavy defeat on Yorkshire on Wednesday.
Birmingham Bears: Will Rhodes, Carlos Brathwaite, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Ethan Brookes, Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Adam Hose, Matt Lamb, Jake Lintott, Craig Miles, Ed Pollock.
Notts Outlaws have named an unchanged squad team from their victory over Leicestershire.
Notts Outlaws: Alex Hales, Ben Duckett, Ben Slater, Peter Trego, Samit Patel, Lyndon James, Steven Mullaney, Luke Fletcher, Matt Carter, Calvin Harrison, Jake Ball
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Birmingham Bears: WLLLA
Notts Outlaws: WTWTW (as of June 30)
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 18
Birmingham Bears wins: 8
Notts Outlaws wins: 10
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 2
No result: 0
What’s the weather forecast?
An overcast, warm evening is on the cards for tonight's fixture. You can follow the live forecast for Edgbaston from the Met Office: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Tickets are on sale priced at £19 for adults while Under-16s are admitted for free. Click here for the Edgbaston box office.
Travel
Address: Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Rd, Birmingham, B5 7QU
Parking: There will be no parking available to purchase in advance or on the day for this fixture.
Parking will be available on-site for annual car park pass holders only. A small number of disabled parking spaces will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Public car parking may also be available on a pay and display basis in Cannon Hill Park and/or the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Centre. These car parks are not operated by Edgbaston.
By bus: There are regular local buses to the ground from southwest Birmingham and the city centre. National Express buses 45 and 47 have services between the city centre and Pershore Road which is a two-minute walk to the ground.
More information on local buses can be found by clicking here.
By train: Birmingham New Street Station is the main rail hub for the city with connections from all over the country.
How do I follow the match?
Birmingham will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All T20 Blast matches are also 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?
It's difficult to look past Nottinghamshire as a general rule in this competition, and Peter Moores' men have good memories of Edgbaston, where they won last year on Finals Day. But Birmingham Bears won well last time out against Yorkshire. Tight but away win.
NORTH GROUP
Yorkshire Vikings v Lancashire Lightning
Derbyshire Falcons v Worcestershire Rapids
SOUTH GROUP
Hampshire Hawks v Gloucestershire
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