Birmingham Bears Match Preview - 16/6/21

Leicestershire Foxes take on Birmingham Bears this evening (June 16) live on Sky Sports with Leicestershire entering the fixture on the back of four straight defeats.

Despite losing their opening four games, the Running Foxes have been close to claiming their first win of the campaign on the two previous outings, losing out to Durham Cricket (June 13) at the Uptonsteel County Ground by two wickets, with six balls remaining. Scott Steel claimed his second 2021 Vitality Blast half-century in this fixture.

Last night (June 15), the Foxes lost by 18 runs to a mammoth Yorkshire Vikings total of 240 “ Josh Inglis led from the top of the order posting a career-best T20 score of 82 off 37 balls.

Conversely, our opposition head into the fixture sitting atop the North Group table following an emphatic 55-run victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks last night (June 15), to make it three wins from four.

They also have a three wicket win against Derbyshire Falcons, and and 18-run victory over Notts Outlaws - in which the Bears posted 229 runs - under their belts.

Last Time We Met

The two teams didn’t face each other in the shortened 2020 Vitality Blast season so we have to go back to 2019 to find the last time the Running Foxes faced the Birmingham Bears.

In the first meeting, at Edgbaston, things didn’t go well for us, being restricted to 115-9 from our 20 overs with Fidel Edwards taking 4-22 including our top three. Birmingham chased this down with ease, earning a seven-wicket victory with 31 balls to spare. 

The second match of the 2019 season - our most recent encounter with Birmingham - will be remembered primarily for one thing only. That, of course, was Colin Ackermann’s world record 7 for 18, as we bowled our opponents out for 134 in pursuit of our 189-6. There were strong innings from Harry Swindells (63, 50b), Arron Lilley (28, 15b) and Lewis Hill (58, 28b) in our innings. Given that Birmingham are likely to field three of their top six today who played in that match, it will be interesting to see how they approach Ackermann’s bowling today.

Head to Head

Rishi Patel v Dan Mousley

The battle of two young batters who are really making a name for themselves this season is a fascinating one.

Having never previously played first-team T20 for his previous team, Essex, Rishi Patel has hugely impressed in a Running Foxes shirt so far in the Blast this year - he’s already scored 105 runs at an average of 26.25, with his runs coming at a rapid 166.67 strike rate. Patel has hit seven fours and six sixes so far in the tournament, including a gigantic six last night at Headingley, and he’s hit boundaries in 20.63% of balls faced - a hugely impressive number indeed.

Former England Under-19 batter Dan Mousley has scored 84 runs for Birmingham at an average of 28, and strike rate of 131.25. The left-hander has hit nine fours and two sixes (17.19% boundaries) and also finished last season strongly with 40 from 31 balls against Worcestershire Rapids, plus 58 not out from 44 balls against Northamptonshire Steelbacks. Additionally, Mousley offers an occasional off-spin option, taking the wicket of Saif Zaib last night - also against Steelbacks - in his solitary over.

With both teams being very proactive in terms of integrating young players into their playing group, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the Patel v Mousley battle tonight. 

Leicestershire Foxes Squad

Head Coach Paul Nixon sticks with the same 14-man squad as he has done all season.

Leicestershire from 14: 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)

Match Sponsor

Thanks to The Commercial Flooring Company for sponsoring the 2021 Vitality Blast fixture against Birmingham Bears.