Match Preview | T20 Blast | Durham | 15 July 2025

Leicestershire are into must-win territory as they head north to take on Durham in front of the Sky cameras on Tuesday.

The Foxes know it’ll take two victories from their final two games to earn a quarter-final berth, with the four qualification spots in a congested North Group still up for grabs between seven sides.  

Both teams suffered defeat on Sunday to dent their hopes, but Leicestershire will be quietly confident given their recent record at Chester-le-Street, winning on each of their last four T20 visits.

Squad:

Matt Salisbury comes back into contention against his former county, meaning 14 will make the trip north.

Leicestershire Foxes: Ahmed, Budinger, Cox+, Hill, Hull, Kimber*, Masood, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Thomas, van Beek, Walker, Wood.

Famous Fixture:

The Foxes’ last Durham away day in front of the Sky cameras “ a 2022 trip - was a memorable one. After a quick start from Nick Welch (37, 28b) and Rishi Patel (22, 17b) in the opening five overs, Leicestershire found themselves pegged back to 80/6 after 12.3.

Wiaan Mulder played a phlegmatic innings to get Leicestershire to a competitive score, posting 54 from 33 deliveries thanks to a perfectly-timed end-of-innings acceleration “ featuring two monstrous maximums off Andrew Tye at the death.

With 157 on the board, Rehan Ahmed took centre stage in his debut T20 campaign “ taking his career-best 4/22. Ollie Robinson was caught and bowled first ball, before a pair of bamboozling googlies accounted for Ned Eckersley and Tye. Durham all out for 106, giving the Foxes a 51-run win.

Decisive Duel:

Two openers come under the microscope this week, as Rishi Patel locks horns with Alex Lees. Both are capable of shifting through the gears, with Patel a previous T20 centurion against Durham.

The Foxes’ 2023 Cricketer of the Year hasn’t quite scaled those heights this season, but he certainly possesses the quality to post a third Blast hundred in as many seasons.

With the blistering form of Sol Budinger and Rehan Ahmed around him, his patient control could also be key “ as it was when top-scoring with 48 from 44 balls in last year’s low-scoring thriller.

Lees has played more than 100 domestic T20 matches, and is approaching 2,500 runs in the format. He can anchor and accelerate seamlessly, but will need to escape the clutches of Josh Hull, who has picked him up cheaply in each of the previous two meetings at Chester-le-Street.

Follow The Action:

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