Yorkshire Vikings | T20 Match Preview - 16/06/2024

The Foxes head north on Sunday, as Leicestershire look for consecutive away wins following Wednesday’s success in Durham.

Leicestershire are bidding to return to winning ways after Friday’s defeat to group leaders, Lancashire, and will take confidence from their commanding performance against the Vikings on the opening day.

Yorkshire also tasted defeat on Friday evening, losing by four wickets to the Birmingham Bears, despite impressive showings from England duo Dawid Malan and Joe Root.

FAMOUS FIXTURE:

Sunday is a special anniversary for Leicestershire in T20 cricket. On 16 June 2003, the Foxes took to the field for the first time in the format, as they beat…you guessed it, Yorkshire.

In a contest which duly announced T20 cricket’s arrival in style, Leicestershire legend Brad Hodge took centre stage with both bat and ball.

Batting at number three, the Australian international powered a venomous 97 off just 61 balls “ including five maximums “ before taking three wickets in the final over of the match “ to guide the Foxes to victory by 16 runs.

DECISIVE DUEL:

Spin rarely fails to play a huge role in T20 cricket, whatever the conditions. With that in mind, it’s fair to say Lewis Goldsworthy’s addition to the Foxes XI in recent matches has been a shrewd one.

The left-arm spinner has been in crucial in stemming the run flow and building the pressure on batters during the middle phase “ taking four wickets at just 15.5, while going at a miserly 5.63 runs per over. That’s the best bowling average and economy rate of any Foxes bowler so far this term.

Jafer Chohan poses a similar threat with his leg spin. The 21-year-old joined Yorkshire on a one-year rookie contract for the 2023 season, after impressing as a net bowler during an England training session at Loughborough, where he dismissed current teammate Joe Root.

He claimed 2/28 in the reverse fixture, while he took 1/16 from his four overs at Uptonsteel County Ground last term. If the Foxes can negate his crafty variations, they’ll be well set on Sunday.

SQUAD:

One change to the squad. Sol Budinger is ruled out with a side issue, so Sam Evans joins up with the travelling party.

Leicestershire Foxes: Ahmed, Cox+, Currie, Evans, Goldsworthy, Handscomb*, Holland, Hull, Kimber, Mike, Mulder, Patel, Swindells, Walker.