Yorkshire Vikings Match Preview - 25/6/21

Leicestershire Foxes return to the Uptonsteel County Ground following a successful road trip, earning their fist two victories of the 2021 Vitality Blast campaign.

The Running Foxes head into tonight’s clash against Yorkshire Vikings on the back of a comprehensive 42-run victory over Derbyshire Falcons on Tuesday, June 22. The fixture saw Scott Steel (46, 34b) and Louis Kimber (53, 28b) star with the bat, as well as Callum Parkinson (2-23 from 4), Steel (2-23 from 4) and Naveen (2-17 from 3.4) impress with the ball.

The visitors, despite having lost batsmen Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan as well as spinner Adil Rashid to England duty, top the North Group table after victory over Worcestershire Rapids on Wednesday, June 22. A Vitality Blast record sixth wicket partnership of 141 from Harry Brook (83no, 54b) and Jordan Thompson (66no, 28b) helped the Vikings on their way to victory, after the Vikings looking to be in trouble on 50 for 5 in the eleventh over.

Since their victory over the Falcons, the Foxes have gone down a place in the North Group following Falcons’ victory over Birmingham Bears last night (June 24), and now sit in eighth place on four points.

Last Time We Met

The Running Foxes travelled to Headingley on June 15, and were beaten by 18 runs in a high-scoring clash.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Vikings posted an incredible 240-4 from their 20 overs with Jonny Bairstow (82, 45b), David Willey (44, 21b) and Harry Brook (48 not out, 16b) impressing for the hosts.

For the Foxes, the spin duo of Callum Parkinson and Colin Ackermann kept things tight (1-31 each from four overs) while Naveen-ul-Haq picked up the wickets of Bairstow and Willey.

Our chase got off to a stunning start, reaching 141-2 midway through the 11th over and being ahead of the DLS target. Overseas star Josh Inglis was magnificent, hitting seven fours and five sixes in his 82 from 37 balls, while Colin Ackermann (32, 17b) supported him well. However, regular wickets fell in such a steep chase and we eventually closed on 222-8 from our 20 overs. 

Head to Head

Arron Lilley vs Harry Brook

Both players hit a high strike rate in the reverse fixture at Headingley, with Lilley (24, 12b) and Brook (48, 16b), and this is a recurring theme among the duo who are both very dangerous batters

Following Brook’s 83 from 54 balls on Wednesday night versus Rapids, which included six sixes, he has hit 266 runs so far in the tournament at a strike rate of 154.65. His boundary percentage, in excess of 20%, is also impressive.

Boundaries are second nature to Lilley as well, with our number three also above the 20% mark (20.56%) this season. He has hit 12 fours and 10 sixes so far in the competition, which has helped him post a strike rate just shy of the 140 mark, and since moving to the Foxes, Lilley has hit 675 runs at a strike rate of 148.35 with a boundary percentage of 19.56%. What is also impressive from Lilley is his six-hitting ability - he has hit 36 sixes in Leicestershire colours in the T20 Blast, which works out at 7.91% sixes - so he hits a six roughly every 12 balls, which is a simply stunning stat, making him one of the best six-hitters in the entire competition in recent years.

Leicestershire Foxes Squad

Inevitably, Paul Nixon has kept the same 14-man squad that have gone back-to-back in the Vitality Blast, as the Running Foxes will be looking to make it three on the bounce in front of their home fans.

Leicestershire from 14: Colin Ackermann (C), Ed Barnes, Will Davis, Gavin Griffiths, Lewis Hill, Josh Inglis (wk), Louis Kimber, Arron Lilley, Ben Mike, Naveen, Rishi Patel, Callum Parkinson, Scott Steel, Harry Swindells (wk)

Match Sponsor

Thanks to 365 People for sponsoring the 2021 Vitality Blast fixture against Yorkshire Vikings.