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: Leicestershire Foxes v Yorkshire Vikings
Venue: Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester
Date: Friday, June 25, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Leicestershire are looking to record their third consecutive win when they host Yorkshire on Friday. Colin Ackermann's side lost their opening five fixtures but back-to-back wins over Northants Steelbacks and Derbyshire Falcons have lifted the Foxes from the foot of the table.
Yorkshire, meanwhile, have seemingly put their past white-ball woes behind them and are currently top of the North Group, with five wins, one defeat and one washed out match to their name. In their most recent match, the Vikings found themselves 15 for 4 against Worcestershire before an unbeaten 141-run partnership between Harry Brook and Jordan Thompson propelled them into an unbeatable position.
When these sides met at Headingley earlier in the season, Yorkshire won by 18 runs in a blockbuster encounter which saw both Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire) and Josh Inglis (Leicestershire) score rapid half-centuries and 468 runs shared between the two sides.
Who’s in form?
Harry Brook was electric for Yorkshire against Worcestershire. The 22-year-old scored an unbeaten 83 from 54 deliveries to take his total for the season to 266 - only Jonny Bairstow (295) has scored more T20 runs for Yorkshire in 2021.
Jordan Thompson is proving himself to be an asset with both bat and ball, scoring 88 runs at a strike rate of 209.52 and taking 10 wickets. Meanwhile, overseas signing Lockie Ferguson continues to impress. The New Zealander was Yorkshire's most economical bowler against Worcestershire, finishing with figures of 1 for 32 and has 10 wickets in six appearances.
Josh Inglis is Leicestershire's leading run-scorer with 269, although 185 of those have come in two innings. Louis Kimber stepped up with the bat against Derbyshire, posting 53 runs from 28 balls at number seven, while Arron Lilley (44 v Northants) and Scott Steel (46 v Derbyshire) have also played a role in Leicestershire's upturn in fortunes.
With the ball, Naveen-ul-Haq is the competition's leading wicket-taker with 13. Aside from one bizarre over against Durham which saw him removed from the attack at the death after bowling two head-high no balls, the Afghan looks very much at home at Grace Road.
What’s the team news?
Leicestershire Foxes: Coach Paul Nixon has stuck with the same squad that beat Derbyshire in their last outing.
Leicestershire Foxes squad: Colin Ackermann (C), Ed Barnes, Will Davis, Gavin Griffiths, Lewis Hill, Josh Inglis (wk), Louis Kimber, Arron Lilley, Ben Mike, Naveen, Rishi Patel, Callum Parkinson, Scott Steel, Harry Swindells (wk)
Yorkshire: Tom Kohler-Cadmore is missing for the Vikings with a broken finger and Will Fraine is out with a side strain.
Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan and David Willey remain with England.
Yorkshire squad: Gary Ballance, Dominic Bess, Harry Brook, Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Fisher, George Hill, Dominic Leech, Adam Lyth, Josh Poysden, Joe Root (Captain), Jonny Tattersall, Jordan Thompson, Matthew Waite
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Leicestershire Foxes: WWLLL
Yorkshire Vikings: WWAWW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 24
Leicestershire Foxes wins: 13
Yorkshire Vikings wins: 10
Tied: 1
Abandoned: 4
No result: 0
Latest Leicestershire Foxes news
What’s the weather forecast?
Likely an overcast evening at Grace Road but crucially rain is set to stay away. Temperatures will hover around 14 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Leicester: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
This match is sold out.
Travel
By car: The Uptonsteel County Ground is approximately three miles from the M69/M1 Junction 21.
For satnavs, the postcode LE2 8EB will send you to the main entrance on Curzon Road.
Parking: Check with the club before travelling as normal operations may be affected by Covid-19 restrictions.
By bus: To explore the local bus options and plan your journey, click here.
By train: The Uptonsteel County Ground is approximately two miles from Leicester Station.
Regular services run to Leicester from London St Pancras, the East Midlands and Yorkshire, serving Market Harborough, Leicester and Loughborough. They are operated by East Midlands Railway.
Cross Country Trains run services between Birmingham New Street and Leicester, via Hinckley, Narborough and South Wigston, and between Birmingham New Street and Stansted Airport, via Leicester and Melton Mowbray.
How do I follow the match?
Leicestershire 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?
Closer than Yorkshire would hope but they should be too strong for even an in-form Leicestershire. Away win.
OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES: FRIDAY, JUNE 25
North Group
Worcestershire Rapids v Durham
Northants Steelbacks v Lancashire Lightning
Derbyshire Falcons v Notts Outlaws
South Group
Sussex Sharks v Gloucestershire
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