Northamptonshire Steelbacks welcome Notts Outlaws to Wantage Road on Friday evening as they look to get back to winning ways in the Vitality Blast.
The Steelbacks enjoyed a perfect start to their 2025 Vitality Blast campaign, winning six from six, before defeat to Durham last Friday halted their increasing momentum.
The Steelbacks lead North Group by eight points as we approach the final Blast game before the return of the County Championship.
The home side are once again unchanged as they look to return to winning ways in front of what will be a packed out Wantage Road on what promises to be a glorious Friday evening.
Earlier this week, we caught up with Darren Lehmann to discuss what training looks like this week, Matt Breetzke getting a Test call up for South Africa and Friday nights at Wantage Road.
The Outlaws, led by Joe Clarke, have endured an indifferent Vitality Blast season so far, winning three and losing four of their opening seven games. Just one win away from a qualification place, though, there is plenty to play for on Friday evening.
Leg spinner, Calvin Harrison, will return to Wantage Road as an opponent, after impressing for Northamptonshire on loan from Nottinghamshire in the County Championship this season.
Play is set to start at 6:30pm with tickets available on the gate or can be purchased here ready for an evening of Vitality Blast fireworks.
NOTTS OUTLAWS
Previewed by Jon Culley, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain: Joe Clarke
Overseas players: Daniel Sams (Australia, full competition), Moises Henriques (Australia, full competition)
2024 finish: Ninth (North Group)
2024 leading runscorer: Joe Clarke (306)
2024 leading wicket taker: Olly Stone (15)
Key winter moves: There will be no Alex Hales at Trent Bridge for the first time in 17 seasons after the county’s 36-year-old all-time record runscorer opted not to return. But an Outlaws side in transition will benefit from having two experienced Australian all-rounders as overseas players in 32-year-old former Essex and Trent Rockets star Daniel Sams and 38-year-old Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques.