It’s one week until NatWest T20 Blast cricket returns to The 3aaa County Ground, when Derbyshire Falcons take on Lancashire Lightning on Tuesday 25 July – the first of three games in a week.
The Falcons got off to a flying start in the competition, with back-to-back wins against reigning champions Northants Steelbacks and a strong Yorkshire Vikings side at a sold-out Queen’s Park.
Suffering their first defeat of the competition to Lancashire Lightning on Sunday, Gary Wilson’s side are looking to bounce back quickly with a run of three straight away matches before returning to Derby on Tuesday 25 July.
The Falcons Captain is looking forward to his first NatWest T20 Blast match at The 3aaa County Ground and wants to use excellent home support to turn the ground into a fortress.
“We want to turn The 3aaa County Ground into a place where people don’t want to come and play,” said Wilson. “If we keep performing it becomes a place where we know how to win games of cricket and that will give us an extra edge.
“The crowd can definitely make it for the players. Support really counts, there is nothing better than a home crowd getting really behind you and once you get off to a good start or your batsman hits quick runs you can hear the crowd and feel them backing you all the way.”
Derbyshire face Lancashire Lighting on Tuesday 25 July, before they play Northants Steelbacks in the reverse fixture on Friday 28 July and Leicestershire Foxes in our Kids Go Free fixture on Sunday 30 July.
Tickets for all NatWest T20 Blast fixtures at The 3aaa County Ground are on sale now. Buy in advance & save.
Lancashire Lightning – Tue 25 July – BUY
Northants Steelbacks – Fri 28 July – BUY
Leicestershire Foxes – Sun 30 July – BUY
Notts Outlaws – Fri 4 August – LIMITED
Durham Jets – Tue 15 August – BUY
Worcestershire Rapids – Fri 18 August – BUY
Lancashire Lightning – Jos Buttler
England and IPL wicketkeeper-batsman will be the main threat in the Lightning’s line-up. The explosive international batsman holds the record for the fastest ODI hundred for England , coming off just 46 balls versus Pakistan in 2015.
With a wide variety of shots and the power to match, Buttler has scored over 3,500 Twenty20 runs at an impressive strike rate of 148.
Northants Steelbacks – Ben Duckett
Ben Duckett has the ability to lead the charge and has a strike rate of 129 in domestic Twenty20 cricket. The England international hit 69 off 52 balls in the reverse fixture, including ten fours.
The diminutive yet extremely powerful run scorer hit 2,619 runs across all formats in 2016 and will be one to watch when the Steelbacks visit The 3aaa County Ground.
Leicestershire Foxes – Luke Ronchi
Former New Zealand international Luke Ronchi is expected to take the gloves and provide explosive top-order batting. The 36-year-old played 32 Twenty20 Internationals and carried a strike-rate over 140.
Despite an average below 20 in domestic Twenty20 competitions, Ronchi is set to open the batting for the Foxes and will have an opportunity to score quickly and heavily at the start of the innings.
Notts Outlaws – Samit Patel
The 32-year-old has played over 200 Twenty20 matches, hitting over 3,500 runs and taking more than 150 wickets.
Expected to bat in the middle-order and bowl his full allocation of overs, Patel can make an impact in both innings and has the experience to trouble all sides in the NatWest T20 Blast.
Durham Jets – Ben Stokes
The England Vice-Captain hit 316 runs in 12 matches during the IPL 2017 and is known for destructive batting as well as his ability to change a game with his 90mph pace bowling.
He has also played over 20 Twenty20 internationals and scored 192 runs at a strike rate of 136.
Worcestershire Rapids – Joe Leach
Joe Leach will lead Worcestershire Rapids in his first campaign as captain, with the all-rounder looking to improve upon last year’s eighth place finish in the North Group.
Leach offers firepower with both bat and ball. He has the ability to strike at over 120 with the bat and take wickets at an average under 21 with the ball.
NatWest T20 Blast is back this July and August. Save £4 by purchasing your matchday tickets in advance. While further discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Buy online today to secure your place and save.
[twentyticket]
