We're ready for huge double-header - Parkinson
Wed 1 Aug 2018
Leicestershire Foxes slow left armer Callum Parkinson can draw on happy memories as the team prepare for a double-header that will be crucial to their chances of Vitality Blast progression.
The first assignment is a home game against Birmingham Bears tomorrow (6.30pm start) before a quick turnaround to take on joint leaders Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday.
It is fair to say that the Foxes spinner has shone in recent wins against the two sides.
He took a T20 career-best of four for 20 during the fantastic win at Edgbaston last month, and also claimed the prized scalps of England duo Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone in the fine victory at Liverpool last season.
“Edgbaston was a fantastic night to be a part of, Ben Raine was magnificent that night and we bowled well as a unit,” said Parkinson. “The win at Lancashire in front of a big crowd was something I won’t forget either, so we’re looking forward to the games.
“We were all disappointed after the Yorkshire game as we didn’t put in a performance that we know we’re capable of.
“But that’s gone now - we back everyone in the dressing room, we know how good our players are, and we’ll keep training hard. Things can change quickly and we have two opportunities now to put things right.”
Parkinson has enjoyed plenty of success in Vitality Blast for the Foxes, taking 27 wickets at 21.33 apiece with an economy rate of just above eight. An ever-present in the side since joining the club, Parkinson is the leading wicket-taker for the Foxes in this year’s campaign (12 at 16.58).
The 21-year-old also continues to develop his batting, and he scored a competition career-best 27 not out at Yorkshire Vikings on Tuesday.
Parkinson also posted a personal high 52* against Notts Outlaws in the Royal London One-Day Cup, a competition in which he averaged 39.66. Parkinson’s 34 was a crucial contribution in the recent Specsavers County Championship win at Derbyshire CCC, as well as his three wickets either side of lunch on the first day.
He said: “I’m pleased with my progress, I’ve had a nice tournament so far but I’d substitute my wickets for a few more wins. The lads are itching to get to Finals Day and win things, and that’s massive for the club. I’d swap my personal tournament for team success.
“I work hard on my batting, obviously it wasn’t the plan to be padded up after six overs, but I enjoyed the opportunity. It was good to spend some time in the middle, albeit in a losing cause. Headingley is an amazing stadium and it was great to play in front of a big crowd at a test match ground.”
Back-to-back defeats has left the Foxes with plenty of work to do in the Blast – but there is still a long way to go in the competition with six games left, and teams in contention having to play one another.
That begins with Notts Outlaws (5th) facing Derbyshire Falcons (6th) at Trent Bridge on Thursday night. Regardless of that result, the Foxes would be just two points outside the final qualifying position in the North Group if they can land victory against the Bears.
Since the competition went back to two divisions in 2014, a total between 14 and 16 points has been enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals. The Foxes banked 17 points last term – but a tally of 16 was sufficient.
So the Foxes, who can still reach 18 points, are not in must-win territory just yet. However, the team will need to go on a run soon given history suggests that they could require between four to five wins from their last six fixtures in order to qualify.
Head Coach Paul Nixon acknowledges that fact, and also the class of Kane Williamson’s innings, which went a long way to securing Vikings their impressive victory on Tuesday night.
He said: “It was disappointing at Headingley, and we've got to look at it and learn because that was a masterclass in T20 batting from Kane Williamson, who is a world-class performer.
“We wanted to be ahead of Yorkshire in the powerplay. They were 55, and we felt it was slightly under par. But it wasn't meant to be.
“The game was realistically over within 23 or 24 balls (of our chase). When you're four down early in the powerplay, you're not going to get 12 to 13 an over after that.
“The games we've done poorly in are those in which the wicket has turned, so we've got to look at our options at the right time and how we go about building our innings. Ones and twos become crucial on those sorts of pitches.
“We now have a massive double-header against Birmingham and Lancashire, and the nature of T20 cricket means you can quickly turn things around. Two wins would put us right back in the mix.”
Zak Chappell has missed the last two matches with a hamstring niggle but is part of a 14-man squad alongside Ateeq Javid, Harry Swindells and the XI that played against the Vikings.
Foxes (from 14 v Birmingham Bears): Ackermann (capt), Abbas, Chappell, Cosgrove, Delport, Dexter, Eckersley, Griffiths, Javid, Nabi, Parkinson, Raine, Swindells, Wells.
* Today (Wednesday) is your last chance to buy the best value tickets for tomorrow’s Vitality Blast home game against Birmingham Bears! A family ticket for 2 adults and 3 under 16s is available for £37 before 11.59pm tonight. Secure your seat today HERE
