Match Preview | T20 Blast | Durham Cricket | 6 June 2025

Leicestershire got back to winning ways in convincing fashion on Wednesday, picking up their second Vitality Blast victory from the opening three games with a five-wicket triumph against Lancashire.

With less than a 48-hour turnaround, the Foxes are back at base as Alfonso Thomas’ side welcome Durham to Uptonsteel County Ground on Friday evening.

The visitors have won one and lost one so far this campaign, and will ferry a host of former Foxes back to Grace Road, with Colin Ackermann, Jimmy Neesham, Callum Parkinson, and Ben Raine all in the Durham ranks.

Squad:

The opportunity to enjoy more Rehan Ahmed brilliance in a Leicestershire shirt will have to wait for two more games, as the all-rounder joins up with England’s IT20 squad for the three-match series against the West Indies.

18-year-old Alex Green rejoins the 14-strong squad in Ahmed’s absence.

Leicestershire Foxes: Budinger, Cox+, A Green, Hill, Kimber*, Masood, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Swindells, Trevaskis, van Beek, Walker, Wood.

Famous Fixture:

Rewinding the clock to 2013 for the Foxes’ joint-highest home score against Durham, 176 made in a dramatic 11-run victory at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Batting first against an attack comprising the likes of Ben Stokes and Mark Wood, Greg Smith’s 67 and an unbeaten 82 from Australian batter Joe Burns helped Leicestershire to an imposing total.

Anthony Ireland starred with the ball, claiming four for 22 “ including the wicket of Stokes for a quickfire 35 “ as the Foxes survived a late Gareth Breese onslaught to take victory by 11 runs.

Decisive Duel:

Friday’s focus is on the battle of the glovemen, as wicketkeepers Ben Cox and Ollie Robinson go head-to-head.

Cox demonstrated his capabilities with bat and gloves in Wednesday’s win over Lancashire, illustrating exactly why the 2018 Blast winner has garnered a reputation as both a clinic finisher and one of the sharpest behind the stumps.

His 38 not out showed ice cool composure to steer Leicestershire’s five-wicket chase, while a stumping and a catch on a spinning pitch takes him to within two dismissals of 700 for his career.

Robinson is equally as dangerous, as the Foxes have found out previously. The 26-year-old made his T20 career-best “ an unbeaten 69 - against Leicestershire in 2023, and averages 22.45 striking at close to 130 in the Blast.

Tickets:

Tickets for Friday evening’s clash can be purchased ONLINE, starting from just £7. Save in advance before prices rise on the day when securing your seats before midnight.

Follow The Action:

Foxes TV will be the exclusive home of the fixture’s live stream. Subscribe for free HERE. You can also follow our play-by-play feed on X (@leicsccc), as well as updates on Instagram (@leicsccc) and Facebook (Leicestershire County Cricket Club).