Northamptonshire Steelbacks return to action in the Vitality Blast as they welcome Lancashire Lighting to Wantage Road on Friday night.
With the Rothesay County Championship replacing the shorter format in the previous two weeks, Northamptonshire have impressed with the red ball. A remarkable four-wicket victory over Middlesex was followed by a thrilling late surge with the ball in a scorching week in Kent. Four players initially made centuries before a Yuzvendra Chahal inspired bowling effort reduced Kent to 160-8 late on day four until players eventually shook hands with two wickets still to get.
Darren Lehmann’s side now re-shift their focus back to white ball cricket where their perfect start of six wins out of six has been tarnished slightly by two consecutive home defeats at the hands of Durham and Nottinghamshire Outlaws.
In front of a packed out Wantage Road on a glorious Friday evening, it is first vs second as Lancashire Lighting arrive in Northamptonshire looking to dislodge the Steelbacks from the top spot position they have occupied since the beginning of the tournament.
Victory for the home side can stretch their lead to eight points and all but secure a quarter-final spot going into their double-header against Worcestershire Rapids on Sunday. A win for Lancashire will see them draw level with the Steelbacks on 24 points with a game in hand.
The home side makes one change as Tim Robinson replaces Matt Breetzke at the top of the order due to the latter’s call up to South Africa’s test squad.
Ahead of the game, we caught up with Head Coach Darren Lehmann to discuss the return of white ball cricket, Tim Robinson’s Steelbacks debut and hopes of qualification.
The Lightning will have England’s all-time leading wicket taker, James Anderson, at their disposal alongside England internationals Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt. With five victories and two defeats so far, the away side can firmly lay down their credentials for a quarter-final position by the end of the weekend.
Play is set to start at 6:30pm with tickets available on the gate or can be purchased here ready for an unmissable night of Vitality Blast action.