Pre-Match Pack: Leicestershire Foxes (H) & Worcestershire Rapids (H)

Derbyshire Falcons have named a 14-player squad for the back-to-back Vitality Blast home games against Leicestershire Foxes (Friday, 7pm) & Worcestershire Rapids (Sunday, 2.30pm) at The Incora County Ground. 

The Falcons come into the North Group finale knowing they must win both games, and hope reults go their way, to qualify for a place in the quarter-finals. Should they achieve two wins, and one of Worcestershire Rapids, Lancashire Lightning or Notts Outlaws lose their remaining two fixtures, Derbyshire will finish inside the top four.

Zak Chappell has 22 T20 wickets to his name this season, one short of Derbyshire’s record for a single campaign, and he will be looking to put his name in the history books in his first year with the Club, while Zaman Khan (20) also has an opportunity to claim the record for himself.

With the bat, Wayne Madsen leads the way with 502 at an average of 50.20. He made a century against the Foxes earlier this season and will be aiming for a repeat performance on Friday night.

Derbyshire Squad:

12. Haider Ali
10. Luis Reece
24. Tom Wood
04. Harry Came
77. Wayne Madsen
76. Leus du Plooy (c)
29. Brooke Guest (wk)
65. Anuj Dal
21. Mattie McKiernan
15. Alex Thomson
32. Zak Chappell
09. George Scrimshaw
99. Zaman Khan
26. Nick Potts

The Opposition

Leicestershire Foxes head into their final two group games hoping to end of a high, having won just twice so far. Callum Parkinson (15 wickets) is the only Foxes player to enter double-figures with the ball, while Rishi Patel is their leading run-scorer with 334, including one century.

Worcestershire Rapids have put themselves in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast, with seven wins from 12 games, although they must win one of their final two games against Durham and Derbyshire Falcons to ensure qualification.

Pat Brown has claimed 21 wickets for the Rapids and is among the most productive fast bowlers in the competition, while spinners Brett D’Oliveira (15) and Usama Mir (13) have also been impressive.

Pre-Match Talk

Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, looks ahead to Derbyshire Falcons final two Vitality Blast group fixtures, with a place in the quarter-finals still a possibility. 

The Falcons must win both of their games against Leicestershire Foxes and Worcestershire Rapids, and hope that one of Worcestershire, Lancashire Lightning or Notts Outlaws lose their remaining two games to secure a place in the top four.

Arthur says Derbyshire’s main aim is to earn two big wins and give themselves the best possible chance of qualification, while putting on a show for The Incora County Ground support.

Click the video above to watch the full interview. 

How to follow

Derbyshire Falcons’ Vitality Blast fixtures against Leicestershire Foxes and Worcestershire Rapids will be covered live on the Club website, through our improved Match Centre, delivered in partnership with Purpose Media.

Our Match Centre includes live streaming, in-play live scorecards, ball by ball commentary and statistics, everything you need to stay up-to-date, no matter where you’re following from!

Updates will also be provides via our social media channels, so make sure you’re following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, so you never miss a moment of the action.