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: Notts Outlaws v Leicestershire Foxes
Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Date: Thursday, July 1, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Defending champions Notts sit high up in the North Group, separated only from leaders Yorkshire by net run rate. They host a Leicestershire side who, despite a recent run of three wins in a row, are rock bottom.
The Outlaws are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run, and their campaign so far has included a quite remarkable three ties. However, all those ties came away from home, and they have proved as imperious as ever at Trent Bridge in recent games. A narrow seven-run victory over Lancashire on Saturday extended their winning run at home to three in a row.
The landscape was bleak for Leicestershire after they were defeated in all of their first five games, before a magnificent turnaround saw them embark on that aforementioned winning run. However, since then, they have proved that old habits die hard, and they enter this clash having lost their last two. Their most recent reverse came at the hands of Northamptonshire, who triumphed by five wickets at Grace Road on Tuesday.
Who's in form?
Foxes spinner Callum Parkinson, twin brother of Lancashire’s Matt, bowled with craft and guile across that winning run, with the highlight being a four-wicket haul against Yorkshire.
He also snared two apiece in away victories at Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, with his combined figures in those two an excellently miserly four for 42 from eight overs. Afghanistan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq has also proved a shrewd addition to the bowling ranks, with the 21-year-old showing skill beyond his years to consistently pick up wickets in recent games.
Another Leicestershire overseas signing, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, has also demonstrated his ability on multiple occasions, with his highlight a magnificent unbeaten 103 off just 62 deliveries in that victory away to Northamptonshire. The experienced Arron Lilley also struck the ball well against Yorkshire, facing 55 balls for his 99 not out, and Lewis Hill did the same for his 59 off 33 against Worcestershire on Sunday.
On the opposite side, the Outlaws’ newest signing, leg-spinner Calvin Harrison, has put in memorable performances recently, snaring two wickets for just nine runs on Friday in the local clash with Derbyshire, before following it up with one for 17 from three overs against Lancashire the following day. Another twirler, Matt Carter, has also had a good run, with his figures of three for 17 against the Lightning on Saturday especially admirable once the fact that he bowled two of them in the powerplay is taken into account.
Alex Hales continues to throw reminders of his talent left, right, and centre at the England white-ball set-up, and those areas are exactly where he smeared the Lancashire attack to on Saturday as he blasted his way to an unbeaten 101 off 66 balls. He also smashed 60 not out from just 24 against Worcestershire last Tuesday as the Outlaws utterly demolished the Rapids. There could also be a show from captain Steven Mullaney, who has added valuable, and against Lancashire ultimately match-winning, runs to the Outlaws’ total in recent games.
What’s the team news?
Peter Moores has selected a 14-man squad for this fixture.
Notts Outlaws squad: Jake Ball, Sol Budinger, Matt Carter, Zak Chappell, Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Luke Fletcher, Alex Hales, Calvin Harrison, Lyndon James, Tom Moores, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Peter Trego
Paul Nixon has made his first alteration to the squad for the visits to Notts and Durham. Nick Welch is added to the group.
Louis Kimber is involved after passing the club's Covid rules around close contacts, after interacting with an individual who returned a positive lateral flow test.
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), Nick Welch
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Notts Outlaws: WTWTW
Leicestershire Foxes: LLWWW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 32
Notts Outlaws wins: 14
Worcestershire Rapids wins: 15
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 6
No result: 3
Latest Leicestershire Foxes news
What’s the weather forecast?
A warm and sunny early evening is expected at Trent Bridge with temperatures hitting 22 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Nottingham: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Click here to access the Nottinghamshire box office.
Travel
Address: Trent Bridge, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6AG
By car: From the south, exit the M1 on Junction 24 (A453) or Junction 25 (A52) and take the signs for West Bridgford or the cricket ground. From the north, take Junction 26 (A610) and follow the signs to West Bridgford or the cricket ground.
There are plenty of parking options around the Lace Market and the Ice Arena in the town centre. There are three car parks surrounding the ground, and two further down the Bridgford Road into West Bridgford itself.
By public transport: Nottingham station is well linked by East Midlands Trains, Cross Country and Northern. There are regular buses from the station to Trent Bridge, and a taxi rank on the northern side of the station, but it is only a 20-minute walk via the A60 - passing the nation's only Hooters - or better still along a saunter the Nottingham Canal up to the Trent Bridge itself – past Meadow Lane (Notts County), the City Ground (Nottingham Forest) and plenty of pubs.
How do I follow the match?
Nottinghamshire 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?
Leicestershire have some form behind them but this one will be tough to get anything out of. Home win.
MORE PREVIEWS FOR THURSDAY'S GAMES
North Group
Lancashire Lightning v Worcestershire Rapids
South Group
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