Ahead of Derbyshire’s sold-out Vitality Blast opener against Yorkshire on Saturday, we take a look at one of the opposition’s key men: Nicholas Pooran.
A regular in the West Indies side, Pooran has joined up with the Vikings after playing in the World Cup, where he led the run-scoring charts for his country, making 367 runs at an average of 52.42.
The 23-year-old, who is equally adept behind the stumps, has played in 102 Twenty20 games throughout his career, scoring 1,932 runs at an average of 23.27, while he has also taken 52 catches and claimed nine stumpings.
11 of those matches have been for the West Indies, for whom Pooran has scored two half-centuries and averages 24.12, while he has a further two half-centuries and one century in ten ODIs, where he averages 45.87.
Pooran is Yorkshire’s overseas player for Vitality Blast, as they look to improve on last year’s showing which saw them fail to progress from the group stage, despite having a squad featuring the likes of Kane Williamson, David Willey and Gary Ballance.
His highest T20 score of 58 came in a defeat to England in March of this year, taking just 37 balls to reach the total which included three fours and four sixes, having arrived at the crease with the West Indies 37-3.
Derbyshire will face Yorkshire on Saturday 20 July in front of a sell-out crowd at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield as the Falcons begin their 2019 Vitality Blast campaign.
Vitality Blast is back this month! Tickets for all six matches in Derby on sale now, including the big clash against Notts Outlaws on Friday 26 July. Buy online or call 01332 388 101.
[twentyticket]
