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 Yorkshire Vikings
Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Notts Outlaws' T20 Blast title defence is chugging along nicely, a sigth which is no doubt instilling fear in the other 17 counties. The 2020 champions are currently top of the North Group and have won seven and tied three of their 11 fixtures to date. Their only defeat - an 18-run loss to Birmingham Bears - came in their second match of the tournament and in their most recent outing, coincidentally against Birmingham, they bowled their opponents out for just 63.
Yorkshire, meanwhile, are also looking strong as they hunt for their first piece of T20 silverware. The Vikings are two points behind the Outlaws in second position, winning seven and losing three of their 10 completed matches. Yorkshire also head into this match of the back of a nine-run victory over historic rivals Lancashire.
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak in England's white-ball camp, Yorkshire will be without Dawid Malan, who has been called up as a replacement. Notts Outlaws, meanwhile, have lost Ben Duckett and Jake Ball.
Who's in form?
In Notts' mauling of Birmingham Bears, Samit Patel once again rolled back the years with the bat, scoring a quickfire 41 from 30 balls to take him to 245 runs for the season. The veteran allrounder is scoring at a strike rate of 138.41 in 2021 and also has 13 wickets and an economy of 6.25 to his name. Alex Hales also contributed a healthy 21-ball 34 in the same fixture to extend his lead at the top of the Outlaws' run standinds to 100.
In the bowling department, Notts will miss leading wicket-taker Jake Ball (18 wickets) but have strenght in depth, with Matt Carter joining Patel on 13 and Calvin Harrison and Luke Fletcher taking 12 apiece. Harrison, in particular, shone against Birmingham, taking 4 for 17 from his four overs.
For Yorkshire, Harry Brook is quickly establishing himself as a future star, most recently scoring 91 runs off just 50 deliveries in the Roses match. The 22-year-old is the tournament's leading run-scorer with 463 runs at a strike rate of 156.41. The contest between him and Hales should be electric. Adam Lyth was also among the runs against Lancashire, scoring 52 off 40 balls - his first half-century since Yorkshire's third game of the season.
With the ball, Lockie Ferguson leads the way with 14 wickets while Dom Bess has an impressive 10 wickets and a team-leading economy of 6.56. Ferguson took 4 for 24 against Lancashire - his best figures in a Yorkshire shirt.
What’s the team news?
The defending champions are without Jake Ball and Ben Duckett, who have been called up by England. Ben Slater joins the white-ball group and there are returns for Tom Moores and Zak Chappell.
Notts Outlaws squad: Alex Hales, Ben Slater, Peter Trego, Samit Patel, Lyndon James, Steven Mullaney, Luke Fletcher, Matt Carter, Calvin Harrison, Zak Chappell, Joey Evison, Tom Moores, Liam Patterson-White, Dane Paterson
Sam Northeast could make his Vikings debut following his loan move from Hampshire. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Will Fraine are injured while Dawid Malan is back with England.
Yorkshire Vikings squad: Gary Ballance, Dominic Bess, Harry Brook, Ben Coad, Harry Duke (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Fisher, George Hill, Dominic Leech, Adam Lyth (c), Sam Northeast, Josh Poysden, Jordan Thompson, Matthew Waite
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Notts Outlaws: WWWTWT
Yorkshire Vikings: WLWLW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 31
Notts Outlaws wins: 20
Yorkshire Vikings wins: 10
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 4
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
Showers are expected sporadically across the evening but there should be a window to fit in a reduced game.
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?
Notts Outlaws are an imperious T20 force, home win.
OTHER T20 BLAST MATCH PREVIEWS, JULY 9
NORTH GROUP
Worcestershire v Birmingham Bears
Lancashire Lightning v Northamptonshire Steelbacks
SOUTH GROUP
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