Graeme Welch has named a 12-man squad as Derbyshire Falcons take on reigning NatWest T20 Blast champions Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston this evening; 6.30pm start.
Batsman Ben Slater is drafted into the squad, along with the same 11 players that defeated local rivals Notts Outlaws by 34 runs last Friday night in front of over 4,000 supporters at The 3aaa County Ground.
The Falcons will be looking to build on a victory which saw them register their second ever highest T20 score of 201-7, with Chesney Hughes top scoring with 52 off 29 balls, before dismissing a Notts side, which contained no less than seven internationals, for 167.
Ben Cotton is still out of action with a side strain injury, with Will Davis missing out from last time with a slight injury.
DERBYSHIRE FALCONS squad to play Birmingham Bears:
3. Wes Durston (capt)
72. Hamish Rutherford
22. Chesney Hughes
26. Ben Slater
57. Shiv Thakor
77. Wayne Madsen
18. Alex Hughes
10. Scott Elstone
23. Tom Poynton
27. Tom Knight
11. Wayne White
35. Nathan Rimmington
Birmingham Bears are boosted by the inclusion of New Zealand superstar batsman Brendon McCullum, who will make his home debut for the county.
Ireland batsman Will Porterfield is set to play his last game for a month as he looks to build on an impressive record of 279 runs in this year’s competition at an average of 55.80, before joining up with his teammates on international duty.
Jamaican-born bowler Recordo Gordon is in good form after taking seven wickets in his last two matches, in victories against Yorkshire Vikings and Lancashire Lightning.
Birmingham have won six out of their opening eight matches in the tournament this year, meaning that they are in a promising situation to qualify ahead of their final six fixtures.
BIRMINGHAM BEARS squad to face Derbyshire Falcons
Varun Chopra (Captain)
Tim Ambrose (Wicket Keeper)
Rikki Clarke
Laurie Evans
Recordo Gordon
Oliver Hannon-Dalby
Ateeq Javid
Tom Lewis
Brendon McCullum
Jeetan Patel
William Porterfield
Josh Poysden
Boyd Rankin
Derbyshire Falcons are back in home action as they take on Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the NatWest T20 Blast on Sunday 5 July at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.
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