Match Preview | T20 Blast | Northamptonshire Steelbacks | 10 July 2025

The race for a spot in the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast is hotting up and the Foxes are firmly in the hunt ahead of Thursday’s East Midlands Derby against Northamptonshire Steelbacks.

With four games of the group stage remaining, Leicestershire find themselves in fifth place on net run rate, knowing a win at Uptonsteel County Ground could see them leapfrog the Steelbacks into third.

After flying out of the traps in the opening eight matches, both sides have tasted defeat in each of their two games since the resumption of the Blast. Whoever gets back on the horse quickest could well be set for a shot at the final eight.

Squad:

Liam Trevaskis (finger) drops out, with Lewis Hill, Matt Salisbury, and Roman Walker all bidding to break into the XI. Ben Mike (hamstring) and Harry Swindells (finger) also remain on the treatment table.

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

Famous Fixture:

A high-intensity clash, 2022’s meeting was memorable for several reasons. Chiefly because it saw Leicestershire set their record total at Uptonsteel County Ground in T20 cricket.

Colin Ackermann led the way with 85 from just 44 balls, while Nick Welch (38, 21b) and Arron Lilley (29, 19b) also scorched quickfire runs as the Foxes posted 214/6 from their 20 overs “ eclipsing the 207 made against Lancashire in 2016.

The entertainment wasn’t finished there, however. A heated contest saw the Foxes scrape home by one run from the final ball of the game “ just the second time the Club has won by the narrowest margin - sparking pandemonium on the pitch and in the stands.

Decisive Duel:

An explosive opener, Sol Budinger is always box-office entertainment. This year, however, he’s ensuring those flashes of brilliance are on show on a far more consistent basis.

With 289 runs, he’s Leicestershire’s leading scorer in the competition. What’s more, the left-hander is averaging 28.9 and striking at a mighty 160.55, as Budinger enters Thursday’s clash eyeing a third T20 half-century or better in succession.

His nemesis could well be Ben Sanderson, the Blast’s joint-leading wicket-taker. The 36-year-old is in red-hot form with 24 wickets at just 11.79 apiece, including four for 15 in the reverse fixture. If he makes early inroads again, it could be a long day for the Foxes.

Tickets:

You can save on tickets purchased ONLINE before midnight on Thursday, with admission starting from just £7. Tickets on the gate can also be purchased via the Curzon Road entrance on the day.

Follow The Action:

Foxes TV will be the exclusive home of our live stream coverage for Thursday’s contest. You can also keep across play through our match feed on X (@leicsccc), as well as updates on Facebook (Leicestershire County Cricket Club) and Instagram (@leicsccc).