Foxes set for big double-header

Leicestershire Foxes prepare to get their final two home Vitality Blast group stage fixtures underway with the visits of East Midlands rivals Notts Outlaws and Derbyshire Falcons.

The Foxes head into the final three games of the group stages – as they visit Lancashire Lightning on the final day (August 30) – with a strong chance of landing a top four spot and advancing through to the quarter-final stages.

Tomorrow night's visit of the Outlaws is a key fixture with both teams occupying the third and fourth spots on equal points (11).

The Foxes got their 2019 Vitality Blast campaign up and running with a win away at a wet Trent Bridge following one washout and three defeats prior.

Leicestershire Foxes posted an impressive total of 125 for three from just 11 overs in the reduced over game, with Arron Lilley leading the charge by posting 66 from just 29 balls.

Lilley then carried his form into the Outlaws’ innings by claiming the penultimate wicket of Samit Patel before Dieter Klein and Lewis Hill combined for the final wicket in the game of Imad Wasim.

This win instigated the Foxes incredible T20 season so far, something that in-form captain Colin Ackermann acknowledged in the build-up.

“We thrive on playing against the ‘big’ sides, we’ve shown this season we can beat anybody on our day, and we’re really looking forward to playing in front of what will hopefully be our biggest crowd of the season tomorrow,” Ackermann said. 

“It would be huge for the club if we qualify for the quarters of the Blast. We started slowly, but as the competition has gone on, everybody has settled into a role and executed that role really well.

“With four wins [and one rain-off] in our last seven games - a run that started at Notts - we’ve come back strong in the competition and we don’t want to waste that effort now.”

The success at Trent Bridge served as the backbone for their victories over Worcestershire Rapids, Birmingham Bears and most recently Derbyshire Falcons.

Ackermann has played a key role throughout the tournament, but has particularly come to the fore in those last three wins, claiming the incredible figures of 11 for 42 in twelve overs.

The skipper has also been good with the bat in the competition, and is top of the Vitality Blast averages with both leather and willow.

Ackermann has also excelled in red ball cricket. His half-century this week at Durham CCC - along with a brilliant hundred by Mark Cosgrove - ensured the Foxes claimed a confidence-boosting draw ahead of the quick switch of formats.

He said: “It’s a quick turnaround after four tough days up at Durham, the challenge is to regroup, find our rhythm and momentum again, but the boys are up for it.

“Even players with a lot of experience are lifted by a century, and Cozzie [Mark Cosgrove] will take a lot from his knock.

“Some of the guys have had a bit of a break, the likes of Arron Lilley, Lewis Hill and Aadil Ali didn’t travel to Durham, so they’ll be fresh and ready, while the rest of us will be lifted by the way we fought for the draw.”

The Foxes are currently on an unbeaten streak of five in the Vitality Blast, a great run of form leading into this key weekend of action.

Leicestershire CCC (from 13 v Notts Outlaws): Ackermann (capt), Aadil, Cosgrove, Davis, Dearden, Hill (wk), Griffiths, Klein, Lilley, Mike, Parkinson, Swindells, Wright.

* Please get behind Colin and the lads and fill the FCG for both fixtures against Notts Outlaws and Derbyshire Falcons. You can buy tickets for both games HERE!