Foxes v Falcons Preview

Leicestershire Foxes lost out in a close Vitality Blast clash with Notts Outlaws by seven wickets with seven balls remaining on Friday (August 23).

It was a crunch match in the competition with both teams vying for a place among the top-four spots in the table as the campaign begins to draw to a close.

But the evening of Vitality Blast action unfolded up and down the country, the results went the way of the Foxes with Durham Cricket and Birmingham Bears both losing.

This meant that the Foxes only dropped one place to fifth and would move above Derbyshire Falcons with victory at the Fischer County Ground tomorrow (Sunday, August 25).

Although Yorkshire Vikings and the Bears have a game in hand in the tighest of North divisions, two wins against the Falcons and Lancashire Lightning would put the Foxes in with a great chance of qualifying.

Head Coach Paul Nixon spoke after the Outlaws game. He said: “We are obviously bitterly disappointed to lose after posting a competitive score with the bat.

“I felt that Notts bowled very well, in particular Luke Fletcher. He executed his yorkers really well on that pitch. He really kept the pressure on us.

“I am really delighted for Harry Swindells again to play a really mature innings of 61 off 46 balls. But we just kept losing wickets quite consistently when we were looking to build and gain momentum.”

The fixture took place after a Specsavers County Championship game away at Durham sandwiched in-between a hectic conclusion to the Vitality Blast schedule.

Nixon said: “It has been a tough week for the guys after a fixture away at Durham. I think it is more mentally than physically – we just lacked that little spark.

“We have to be right on our game to play against these guys, they are a high-class unit and have got a lot of international players.”

With the fixture against Derbyshire Falcons looming, the Head Coach outlined the importance of it. He said: “Every game is a big game in the competition, and it is about staying level.

“There will be enough energy and enough excitement in your own mindset going into those games and it is about remembering what you are doing, remembering your processes and getting back to basics.

“It is important to not change anything for these big games. We keep doing the same good, strong things that we have been all season.

The attendance figures at the Fischer County Ground were the highest they have been in the last decade with over 4,700 supporters getting behind the boys and Nixon said their importance to spur the Foxes on.

He said: “It was shades of when we were winning it a few years ago in 2004, 2006 and 2011. We were buzzing and it just shows that people want to come and watch winners and that’s what we aim to be and will be desperate to be on Sunday.

“We were delighted that the fans came out and we thank them for their support and hopefully will see them again on Sunday afternoon.”

Last time the Foxes and the Falcons met, the Foxes were victorious for the second time live on Sky Sports this season. Gavin Griffiths was the star man, earning career-best T20 bowling figures (3-14) as Leicestershire bowled the Falcons all out for 94 following the 149 posted in the first innings.

Mark Cosgrove impressed with the bat for the Foxes, anchoring the innings with a crucial 26-ball 38, where he laid the platform for his teammates to kick on and post a competitive score.

The Foxes will be looking for a second victory over the Falcons on Sunday to leapfrog their opponents in the Vitality Blast North Group into fourth spot heading into the final group stage fixture at Emirates Old Trafford.

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

* It is set to be an explosive clash as both teams fight for the final qualification spot on Sunday so let’s get behind Paul Nixon and his Foxes squad one last time at the Fischer County Ground in the Vitality Blast campaign! Over 4,700 were in attendance on Friday - let’s go one better against the Falcons. You can buy tickets for the fixture HERE!