Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Derbyshire Falcons v Birmingham Bears
Venue: Incora County Ground, Derby
Date: Sunday, June 13, 2021
Start time: 2.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Fourth meets fifth in the North Group as the Bears look to steal victory from their trip to Derby.
Derbyshire lost their opening game of the campaign in convincing fashion at Lancashire Lightning on the first day of the tournament but bounced back with a resounding victory over Leicestershire Foxes.
Birmingham Bears, meanwhile, were outplayed by a very good Yorkshire Vikings side on their first outing of the season but made up for that with an impressive win on the road at defending champions Notts Outlaws on Friday night. This game has the potential to see a lot of runs.
Who’s in form?
Luis Reece has begun the term in encouraging fashion with the bat for Derbyshire. Back-to-back half-centuries have come at a combined strike rate of 180.32, and that is the sort of form which Birmingham will be wary about ahead of the game.
Reece also has four wickets at 12.50 and an economy rate of 7.14 across his eight overs in the competition to date. It's been quite the opening salvo.
Matt Critchley showed against Leicestershire how much of an impact he can have with the bat, smashing 80 in 45 balls.
Birmingham have one of the standout performers with the bat in their ranks, too, with Sam Hain having made fifties in both of their matches at a strike rate of 162.31.
What’s the team news?
Wayne Madsen suffered a pulled hamstring in the game against Lancashire Lightning and could be out for as long as six weeks.
Alex Hughes will miss this weekend’s game against Birmingham Bears as he awaits further assessment on a side strain. Anuj Dal has a shoulder problem and misses out.
Derbyshire Falcons squad: Billy Godleman, Luis Reece, Leus du Plooy, Tom Wood, Matt Critchley, Harry Came, Brooke Guest, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Michael Cohen, Mattie McKiernan, Logan van Beek, Sam Conners, George Scrimshaw
Chris Woakes is included for the Bears, with Adam Hose missing out because of a hamstring injury.
Birmingham Bears squad: Will Rhodes, Carlos Brathwaite, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Ethan Brookes, Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Olly Hannon-Dalby, Jake Lintott, Pieter Malan, Craig Miles, Dan Mousley, Ed Pollock, Chris Woakes
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Derbyshire Falcons: WLLLW
Birmingham Bears: WLLWL
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 10
Derbyshire Falcons wins: 4
Birmingham Bears wins: 6
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 2
No result: 0
Latest Derbyshire Falcons news
What’s the weather forecast?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Derby: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
This match is sold out.
Travel
Address: Derbyshire County Cricket Club, The Incora County Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby DE21 6DA
By car
From M1 south
Take exit 25 for the A52 Derby. After six miles you will arrive at Pentagon Island. The ground is the fourth exit off this roundabout, signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From M1 north
Take exit 28 for the A38 towards Derby. After approximately 13 miles, you will arrive at a roundabout, take the first exit towards the A61, signposted with a brown cricket sign. Follow over two more roundabouts, staying on the A61. At Pentagon Island, take the first exit off the roundabout into the ground, signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From Birmingham
Travel up the A38 to the A61 Little Eaton roundabout. Take the third exit towards A61 Derby signposted with a brown cricket sign. Follow over two more roundabouts. At Pentagon Island, take the first exit signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From M6
Exit on J15 (from south), J16 (from north), follow signs to A50 (Uttoxeter). Follow the A50 approximately 20 miles to A516 to Derby. Take the A516 until it joins the A38 then follow the directions (from Birmingham) above.
Spectator parking will be available in the Pavilion car park and adjacent overflow area as well as by the entrance from Sir Frank Whittle Road. Disabled parking spaces are available in The Incora Pavilion car park. While the club will always try to accommodate all vehicles visiting the ground, admittance will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
By bus: Derbyshire County Cricket Club is well-connected by a number of bus routes, with a bus stop located just a minute’s walk from the main entrance.
By train: Derby is on the East Midlands Trains mainline with direct trains from London St. Pancras via Leicester from the South, and Sheffield and Chesterfield from the North.
It is also on the Cross-Country line with trains from Scotland, Newcastle, Durham and Yorkshire, as well as The West Country, Bristol and Birmingham. Derby is also served by local trains from Burton, Cardiff, Crewe, Matlock, Nottingham and the East Midlands.
It is approximately a 20-minute walk to the ground from Derby train station.
How do I follow the match?
Derbyshire will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All T20 Blast matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Prediction?
Birmingham ought to have just too much, but Derbyshire are capable of springing a surprise. Away win in a high-scoring game.
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