Foxes look to strike back at Lightning

In-form Leicestershire Foxes batsman Neil Dexter wants the team to be smarter as they look to keep Vitality Blast qualification hopes alive by winning at Lancashire Lightning this evening (6.30pm).

Dexter is the club’s leading scorer in the competition with 276 runs at 30.66 with a strike rate above 140, and his stylish half-century from only 29 balls was the highlight of a defeat against Birmingham Bears last night.

The Foxes were unable to gather momentum given they lost wickets at crucial moments. Pacemen Chris Woakes and Olly Stone had success at either end of the innings, and Grant Elliott and Jeetan Patel backing them up by bowling tightly in a middle period where pace generally came off the ball.

Dexter feels that the team need to avoid falling into the same trap at Emirates Old Trafford because the Foxes have the firepower to turn their fortunes around if a platform is set.

“We have guys that can take a game away from the opposition but you need wickets in hand,” said Dexter. “The key factor for us was that unfortunately we kept losing wickets and never got a real partnership going at any point.

“On the night we know we can beat anyone as we have shown in some of the great results we’ve managed away from home, but now we are in a position where we need to start putting wins together in order to qualify for the quarter-finals.

“If you look at the table it is in danger of slipping away unless we turn things around quickly. We are not playing smart cricket, and we need to play better. You will mistakes, because that’s the game, but you can’t keep making the same ones.

“Getting momentum towards the back end of this competition can be crucial, so if we can get on a run now, things could go in our favour. But we can’t look too far ahead, it’s important that we focus on the game in front of us – and that’s at Lancashire now.”

Although it is impossible to know at this stage how many points will be needed to finish in the top four of a competitive North Group, it is fair to say that there is very little margin for error for the Foxes, who now face the top three in the space of eight days.

Dexter’s teammate Mark Cosgrove feels that a quick turnaround to the game at Lancashire Lightning could go in the Foxes favour.

The Foxes have been terrific on the road in the last two seasons, with nine group wins from the last 11 games, and also has history of holding their nerve in these sort of situations having won the last four group games to qualify last term.

“We’ll need to win most of our games to qualify, so it’s pretty much do or die now,” said Cosgrove. “We don’t have time to dwell on last night, which is a good thing. We need to clear our heads now and produce a performance like the one we did at Edgbaston.

“We have a little bit of freedom, there’s nothing to lose at Old Trafford, so it’s important that we play with smiles on our faces and look to keep our good away form going.”

The Foxes have made a couple of adjustments to the squad from last night’s game, with Gavin Griffiths, Tom Wells, Harry Swindells, Dieter Klein and Rob Sayer in contention.

Foxes (from 14): Ackermann (capt), Chappell, Cosgrove, Dexter, Eckersley, Griffiths, Javid, Klein, Nabi, Parkinson, Raine, Sayer, Swindells, Wells.

* Our next Vitality Blast home game is against Worcestershire Rapids on Friday, August 10! The best value tickets are available in advance – adult tickets cost just £16 ahead of the game. Secure your seat at the Fischer County Ground today HERE