Javid: "We want to put on a good show"

Leicestershire Foxes all-rounder Ateeq Javid wants the team to end the Vitality Blast campaign on a high note when Northants Steelbacks visit the Fischer County Ground tomorrow evening (6.30pm start).

Following the frustrating washout against Derbyshire Falcons, a victory for Notts Outlaws at Worcestershire Rapids on Sunday mathematically eliminated the Foxes from the competition.

But County is on recent run of only one Vitality Blast defeat in four games - at leaders Durham Jets – means, so Javid has urged the team to put in another good display to finish off the group stages.

“Had we won at Derbyshire, there may have still been some hope, so it was frustrating that we couldn’t get a game in because of the weather,” said Javid. “But you’re always going to be affected by the rain at some point, and we had been lucky up to that point.”

“Northants is still a big game for us, all of the Foxes supporters should come down to the Fischer County Ground because we want to put on a good show. We have played some decent cricket recently and we’re looking to put a good performance on to end the campaign.

“We were desperate to get that win against Worcestershire Rapids at home to give everybody something to cheer about, and it’s important to get another home win to take away with us into the winter.

“It would naturally be better if we had a chance to get through, but we can still take plenty from the game, and that will also be important going into the [Specsavers County] Championship return [against Kent] on Sunday.”

Saturday’s abandonment at Derbyshire Falcons was a double disappoint for Javid, who had worked hard to move to 26 not out on an evening where many factors made it tough for batting.

Heavy cloud cover, a drizzle that meant umpires Jeremy Lloyds and Mike Burns had to constantly monitor the situation, and a wicket with some pace in it made bowling a far more attractive prospect – particularly for New Zealander Lockie Ferguson, who was clocked at 92mph on the night.

But the Foxes had given themselves the chance to post a score of 160 plus, and there is every chance that would have been competitive given what was at stake coupled with the conditions to chase such a total.

Sadly, the playable conditions turned to slightly heavier, steadier rain. By 10pm, there was still heavy, persistent precipitation, so although the umpires had given it every chance, they had no choice but to abandon the game.

“We knew, deep down, that we needed to get on at Derbyshire and get a win underneath our belt to give us any chance,” said Javid.

“The frustrating thing is that we had just got into a position where we could have kicked on. We felt that we could have pushed on towards 160 and 170 with Mohammad Nabi and Zak Chappell in the side.

“We lost four wickets in the early part of the innings, so it was a case of rebuilding. We didn’t want to have another wicket burst, so it was a case of looking to build a partnership and then look to go hard at the backend of the innings in the last five or six overs.

“Ackers [Colin Ackermann] and I had done the hard work, so it was a bit disappointing we didn’t get the chance to cash in on that.

“The Derbyshire game was my fourth in a row, I’m happy to be in the team and I’ve been enjoying my role, trying to do the best I can. I was just starting to find a bit of form in the middle, so it was disappointing. But we’ve trained hard this week and are ready to go again.”

In squad news, Mohammad Nabi has joined up with Afghanistan ahead of their forthcoming ODIs and T20s in Ireland, while Muhammad Abbas and Ben Raine will rest before the Specsavers County Championship game against Kent CCC on Sunday.

Mark Cosgrove and Neil Dexter, who have had niggles during the season, will also not be risked ahead of Sunday’s Specsavers County Championship crunch game against Kent.

Left arm paceman Dieter Klein has been part of the squad after returning from a side injury, and is in contention alongside Paul Horton, Harry Dearden, Aadil Ali and Lewis Hill.

Foxes (from 12): Ackermann (capt), Aadil, Chappell, Dearden, Eckersley, Griffiths, Hill, Horton, Javid, Klein, Parkinson, Swindells

* Our final Vitality Blast home game is against Northants Steelbacks tomorrow night! The best value tickets are available in advance – a family ticket for 2 adults and 3 under 16s is available for £37 when purchased before 11.59pm tonight (Thursday). Secure your seat at the Fischer County Ground today HERE