Notts Outlaws | One Day Cup Match Preview - 08/08/2023

Following back-to-back victories on the road, Leicestershire kick off their home Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign against East Midlands rivals Notts Outlaws.

The Foxes backed up their five-wicket win over Surrey with a record-breaking 264-run triumph over reigning champions Kent Spitfires at Beckenham on Sunday.

The Outlaws have one win and one no result from their opening two, thrashing Essex by 168 runs in their opening fixture before a weekend washout at Trent Bridge.

Last Time We Met:

The previous meeting between the two sides last August saw the Outlaws emerge victorious by 105 runs at Uptonsteel County Ground. It was a day for the bowlers with Chris Wright (6/35) and Brett Hutton (7/26) both returning remarkable figures.

Notts skipper Haseeb Hameed finished unbeaten on 99 as the away side posted 255/9 from their 47 overs, before the Foxes were all out for 154 despite Wiaan Mulder’s sublime 79.

In Focus:

Wiaan Mulder has had a magnificent start to the competition. The South African has a new role in the side in both disciplines, batting at six with more onus on scoring quickly in the mid-latter stages of the innings and taking the new ball in the field.

The all-rounder is flourishing in both. He has 134 runs at an average of 67 and a strike rate upwards of 150, as well as four wickets at 19.25, in his opening two matches.

It builds on a 2022 campaign, which saw him crowned as the PCA’s MVP, scoring a whopping 533 runs at 88.83 and taking 14 wickets at 28.92. His form will be crucial to the Foxes’ chances again on Tuesday.

Opposition Player to Watch:

One time Fox Ben Slater is a key threat to Leicestershire’s chances. At the very top of the innings, Slater can anchor solidly before accelerating his scoring rate.

He posted 79 in the Outlaws’ opening round win at Essex, adding to his impressive career average of 57.2 in List A cricket. The 31-year-old has six centuries in the format, and finished as his side’s leading run-scorer in 2022 with 432 runs at 61.71.

Squad:

The Foxes name the same 13-strong squad for the third fixture in a row. Ed Barnes (hand) is progressing well but remains out, while Michael Finan (stress fracture) is the other enforced absentee.

Leicestershire Foxes: Ackermann, Budinger, Evans, Handscomb+, Hill*, Hull, Kimber, Mulder, Patel, Ramji, Scriven, Walker, Wright.