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: Derbyshire Falcons v Worcestershire Rapids
Venue: Incora County Ground, Derby
Date: Friday, July 2, 2021
Start time: 7pm
What’s the lowdown?
While Dominic Cork's side are far from being cut adrift in the North Group, they are running out of time if they have ambitions of reaching the quarter-finals. He has set them the challenge of winning all four of their remaining home games.
They missed the opportunity to land a key victory over defending champions Notts Outlaws in their last outing. Needing just 134 for victory, they only scraped to a tie thanks to Sol Budinger's drop off Matt Critchley running to the boundary, when five was required for the win.
That fortuitous result came after a three-match losing streak had been broken by victory over Birmingham Bears. After George Scrimshaw's three wickets restricted the hosts to 167 for 9, Tom Wood's unbeaten 63 saw Falcons over the line with five balls to spare.
Worcestershire might find themselves three points ahead of their opponents at the start of play, but they badly need to discover some consistency in their final eight games in order to stake a claim for the knock-out phase.
The Rapids have twice won two games in a row but have too often been unable to build on it.
On Thursday (July 1) they were unable to complete the double over Lancashire Lightning, falling to their fourth defeat of the campaign by 34 runs at Emirates Old Trafford.
Saqib Mahmood and Tom Hartley shared eight wickets as Worcestershire were bowled out for 125, in pursuit of 160 to win.
Who’s in form?
It is hard to look past Leus du Plooy as Derbyshire's premier performer in the shortened format. Among the competition's leading run-scorers with 346, he has struck half-centuries against Lancashire, Notts and Birmingham Bears.
The bowling department has also produced its fair share of outstanding individual performances, with Logan van Beek having claimed 15 wickets while Scrimshaw and Fynn Hudson-Prentice have taken 14 each.
Add in the runs of Luis Reece (304) and the impact of Critchley (199 runs, nine wickets) and it is baffling to think this is a Derbyshire side who have earned just three victories from their 10 outings.
Worcestershire's leading displays have mainly come in the batting department. Three players have surpassed the 200-run landmark in the competition, though they lack power hitters. Moeen Ali is the only player who scores in the 140s and he now away with England.
Keeping the runs down with the ball has also been an issue. It might be that Brett D'Oliveira's leggies are required on a more regular basis, with his seven overs having gone for just 38 runs. Dillon Pennington and Ben Dwarshuis each have four-wicket hauls to their name.
What’s the team news?
Derbyshire have named a 14-strong squad for the match. Conor McKerr has returned to Surrey, with Jade Dernbach signed on loan. Anuj Dal is the latest addition to a lengthy injury list with a broken finger. Nils Priestley is his replacement after a should problem.
Derbyshire Falcons squad: Luis Reece, Tom Wood, Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley, Harry Came, Brooke Guest, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Alex Thomson, Michael Cohen, Nils Priestley, Mattie McKiernan, Logan van Beek, George Scrimshaw, Jade Dernbach
Alex Gidman has named the same squad for the back-to-back matches against Lancashire and Derbyshire. Josh Tongue and Jack Haynes remain out injured.
Worcestershire Rapids squad: Riki Wessels, Brett D'Oliveira, Jake Libby, Ben Cox, Ross Whiteley, Ed Barnard, Daryl Mitchell, Ben Dwarshuis, Ish Sodhi, Dillon Pennington, Charlie Morris, Adam Finch, Joe Leach
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Derbyshire Falcons: TWLLL
Worcestershire Rapids: LWWLL
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 15
Derbyshire Falcons wins: 6
Worcestershire Rapids wins: 9
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 2
No result: 0
Latest Derbyshire Falcons news
Latest Worcestershire Rapids news
What’s the weather forecast?
Though it is expected to cloud over after a bright afternoon it is expected to remain dry throughout the match.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Derby: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
This game is sold out.
Click here to visit the Derbyshire Falcons box office.
Travel
Address: Derbyshire County Cricket Club, The Incora County Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby DE21 6DA
By car
From M1 south
Take exit 25 for the A52 Derby. After six miles you will arrive at Pentagon Island. The ground is the fourth exit off this roundabout, signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From M1 north
Take exit 28 for the A38 towards Derby. After approximately 13 miles, you will arrive at a roundabout, take the first exit towards the A61, signposted with a brown cricket sign. Follow over two more roundabouts, staying on the A61. At Pentagon Island, take the first exit off the roundabout into the ground, signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From Birmingham
Travel up the A38 to the A61 Little Eaton roundabout. Take the third exit towards A61 Derby signposted with a brown cricket sign. Follow over two more roundabouts. At Pentagon Island, take the first exit signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From M6
Exit on J15 (from south), J16 (from north), follow signs to A50 (Uttoxeter). Follow the A50 approximately 20 miles to A516 to Derby. Take the A516 until it joins the A38 then follow the directions (from Birmingham) above.
Spectator parking will be available in the Pavilion car park and adjacent overflow area as well as by the entrance from Sir Frank Whittle Road. Disabled parking spaces are available in The Incora Pavilion car park. While the club will always try to accommodate all vehicles visiting the ground, admittance will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
By bus: Derbyshire County Cricket Club is well-connected by a number of bus routes, with a bus stop located just a minute’s walk from the main entrance.
By train: Derby is on the East Midlands Trains mainline with direct trains from London St. Pancras via Leicester from the South, and Sheffield and Chesterfield from the North.
It is also on the Cross-Country line with trains from Scotland, Newcastle, Durham and Yorkshire, as well as The West Country, Bristol and Birmingham. Derby is also served by local trains from Burton, Cardiff, Crewe, Matlock, Nottingham and the East Midlands.
It is approximately a 20-minute walk to the ground from Derby train station.
How do I follow the match?
Derbyshire 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?
The Falcons' individual performances are surely going to produce some consistent results soon rather than later, and it could start now against the Rapids. Home win.
NORTH GROUP
Birmingham Bears v Notts Outlaws
Yorkshire Vikings v Lancashire Lightning
SOUTH GROUP
Hampshire Hawks v Gloucestershire
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.