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THE FACTS
Where can I get tickets for the T20 Blast? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for the T20 Blast
What channel is the T20 Blast on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to show the T20 Blast so it is worth checking their schedule here
Where can I stream the T20 Blast in the UK? Matches that are televised on Sky Sports can be streamed live on Sky Go. If not televised on Sky, this match can be streamed live on the official websites and YouTube channels of each competing team
THE FIXTURES
Below is a list of the day’s North Group fixtures:
Worcestershire Rapids vs Birmingham Bears - 17:30 BST
Durham vs Derbyshire Falcons – 18:30 BST
Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Lancashire Lightning - 18:30 BST
Yorkshire Vikings vs Leicestershire Foxes – 18:30 BST
WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS vs BIRMINGHAM BEARS
THE LOWDOWN
WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS
Worcestershire Rapids must be hoping that the break to play a round of County Championship fixtures will work in their favour with them having lost each of their last three T20 Blast games after winning their first four. Most recently, they were beaten by Yorkshire Vikings at Headingley after conceding 224/4, a score far too big for them to match, ultimately losing by 26 runs as they made 198/6 in response.
BIRMINGHAM BEARS
Birmingham Bears got back to winning ways last time out in the T20 Blast and not before time, getting the better of Northamptonshire Steelbacks by 30 runs despite batting first and being bowled out for just 137 after 18.5 overs. But an excellent bowling performance on another turning track at Edgbaston saw them restrict the Steelbacks to just 107/9 in response, taking them onto 12 points.
THE PREDICTION
Worcestershire Rapids overachieved at the start of the group stage and are now perhaps reverting to what most people expected them to be pre-tournament. Despite the loss of captain Moeen Ali to England duty, Birmingham Bears coped just fine without him earlier in the competition and should have enough quality within their squad to get the better of their local rivals here at New Road.
TIP: BIRMINGHAM BEARS TO WIN
DURHAM vs DERBYSHIRE FALCONS
THE LOWDOWN
DURHAM
Durham are showing themselves to be quite the ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ team in the T20 Blast this campaign. Whilst they boast four wins to their name, they have also lost four games and two of those have been against the North Group’s bottom-placed side, Leicestershire Foxes. The hosts will hope to utilise home advantage here as a springboard to a positive run in the second half of the group stage against a side with two less points than them.
DERBYSHIRE FALCONS
Derbyshire Falcons haven’t been able to put together a winning streak of their own which would parachute them up the table, but at least their top order are starting to show less of a reliance on Wayne Madsen with the likes of Luis Reece, Haider Ali and skipper Leus du Plooy all having made runs recently in the T20 Blast. However, they come into this one on the back of a narrow three-wicket defeat in their most recent Blast fixture against Notts Outlaws.
THE PREDICTION
Derbyshire Falcons’ pace bowling attack could well be afforded success on a ground with long boundaries and are playing Durham at a good time with the hosts having lost their last two in this competition. Whilst a high-scoring encounter is unlikely, the nous of Derbyshire and the experience of their top order may just prove the difference, so consider backing an away victory.
TIP: DERBYSHIRE FALCONS TO WIN
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STEELBACKS vs LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING
THE LOWDOWN
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STEELBACKS
Although Northamptonshire Steelbacks won their last home T20 Blast fixture against Leicestershire Foxes, largely thanks to an unbeaten century from opener Chris Lynn, it has been a competition to forget for the Steelbacks so far. They have played eight games, winning just three and losing five, leaving it a tall order for them to qualify for the knockout stage unless they can quickly string some positive results together.
LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING
Lancashire Lightning will have been relieved to end their losing run which was starting to derail their group stage campaign. Liam Livingstone’s side overcame Worcestershire Rapids in the scenic location of Stanley Park Blackpool. Whilst they are a significantly weaker side away from home, the small boundaries in Northampton should work in their favour with the top order firepower at their disposal.
THE PREDICTION
A high-scoring contest between these two teams is likely, but the key may well be the depth that Lancashire Lightning contain within their batting order compared to that of Northamptonshire Steelbacks. Whilst the visitors know that they possess match-winners within their mid-to-lower order, Northants are more reliant on their key men at the top of the order firing. With that in mind, back the Red Rose to come out on top in this one.
TIP: LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING TO WIN
YORKSHIRE VIKINGS vs LEICESTERSHIRE FOXES
THE LOWDOWN
YORKSHIRE VIKINGS
On the back of five consecutive victories in this competition, Yorkshire Vikings will be expected to carry on their excellent recent run, but can’t afford to show any complacency here, despite the lowly standing of opponents Leicestershire Foxes, whom they have already beaten this season in the reverse fixture. But with star batter Dawid Malan in top form and the bowlers all contributing, momentum is high among the White Rose camp.
LEICESTERSHIRE FOXES
Whilst Leicestershire Foxes can still finish inside the top four of the North Group, it would take a seriously dramatic turnaround for them to do so, having struggled all campaign so far in the T20 Blast. After eight games, the visitors have just four points to their name, all of those coming against Durham with the Foxes have lost against every other side they have played.
THE PREDICTION
It’s hard to see Leicestershire Foxes being able to stop the juggernaut that is Yorkshire Vikings in their current form, especially at Headingley. On what is a high-scoring ground, the hosts are expected to pile on the runs should they be batting first and chase down whatever Leicestershire Foxes set them should the Vikings end up bowling first. Any outcome other than a home win would be seen as a surprise.
TIP: YORKSHIRE VIKINGS TO WIN
