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: Yorkshire Vikings v Lancashire Lightning
Venue: Emerald Headingley, Leeds
Dates: Friday, July 2, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What's the lowdown?
The Roses clash has historically thrown up some brilliant games of T20 cricket. This one, though, takes on extra importance for Lancashire who have enjoyed a middling campaign thus far in a tight group.
Yorkshire were flying until a 10-wicket battering by Birmingham Bears on Wednesday night and, naturally, will want to respond strongly to regain their earlier momentum. They are without Joe Root now, however; the England Test captain had briefly skippered his home county before the beginning of the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
The Sky cameras will be in the house to take it all in.
Who's in form?
Harry Brook was the leading run-scorer in the competition as of Thursday evening, and the young Yorkshire batsman been dismissed just four times in nine innings en route to taking his place at the top of the tree. Watch out, too, for Jordan Thompson, an excellent all-round cricketer enjoying something of a breakthrough season - he is also the club's leading wicket-taker.
Lancashire will be without two thirds of the gun top order that began their campaign, with Jos Buttler injured (he would have been with England in any case) and Liam Livingstone on international duty. It has placed an added burden on New Zealand opener Finn Allen, whose enormous potential will likely see him earn a replacement deal in The Hundred. Matt Parkinson, as so often, is Lancashire's highest wicket-taker so far.
What's the team news?
Yorkshire Vikings: The Vikings are heavily affected by England call-ups, keeping the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Adil Rashid out of the team. Harry Duke comes into the side and will don the gloves in lieu of Jonny Tattersall.
Yorkshire Vikings squad: Gary Ballance, Dominic Bess, Harry Brook, Harry Duke, Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Fisher, George Hill, Dominic Leech, Adam Lyth, Josh Poysden, Mark Stoneman, Jordan Thompson, Matthew Waite
Lancashire Lightning: Josh Bohannon returns to Lancashire's 13-man squad after recovering from a side strain. George Balderson and Liam Hurt drop out.
Lancashire Lightning squad: Dane Vilas, Finn Allen, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Tom Hartley, Keaton Jennings, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson, Luke Wells, Luke Wood
Latest Yorkshire Vikings news: Click here
Latest Lancashire Lightning news: Click here
Last five T20 matches (most recent first)
Yorkshire Vikings: LWLWW
Lancashire Lightning: WLLTA
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 30
Yorkshire Vikings wins: 12
Lancashire Lightning wins: 16
Tied: 2
No result: 0
Abandoned: 6
What's the weather forecast?
A cloudy evening in anticipated but no rain is predicted during play.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice's rolling forecast for Headingley: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Sky Sports Cricket will broadcast this match.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every Vitality T20 Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets
Tickets are sold out.
Click here to visit the Yorkshire box office.
Travel
Address: Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Emerald Headingley Stadium, Leeds, LS6 3DP
By car: From the south leave the M1 at Junction 43 to take the M621 as far as Junction 2. From the M62 West leave at Junction 27 to take the M621 as far as Junction 2. From the M62 East leave at Junction29 to join the M1 Northbound to take the M621 as far as junction 2.
At Junction 2 of the M621 follow the signs for Headingley stadium along the A643. These signs will lead you along the Leeds Inner Ring Road A58 to the A660 which is signposted to Skipton and Headingley Stadium. Signs along this road will indicate you have reached the Headingley area.
All routes into Leeds from Bradford, Keighley and other northern areas lead to the Leeds Outer Ring Road, the A6110 – A6120 – A63. Along the Outer Ring Road signposting to Headingley Stadium will lead you to the A660 Otley Road and from here southwards to the Headingley area.
Parkings: Check the latest information with the club, given Covid-19 restrictions.
By train: Headingley is served by three stations.
Leeds Station: Headingley is around a 10-15 minute drive from Leeds City Station. A taxi should cost around £8-£10.
Headingley Station: Headingley Station is on the Harrogate Line and is a 10-minute walk from the ground. Please note that the initial part of this walk is slightly uphill. Trains run half-hourly from Leeds Station and should take around 12 minutes.
Burley Park Station: Burley Park Station is also on the Harrogate Line and is a five-minute walk from the ground. Trains run half-hourly and should take around five minutes. If travelling from Leeds Station this is your recommended station to use.
By bus: The following services operate from the city centre towards Headingley.
Services 19 and 19A – buses every 15 minutes
City Centre stops:
Stand F7 on York Street opposite Leeds Bus Station
Stand K13 on Kirkgate
Stand K17 on Duncan Street
Stand S10 outside Leeds Railway Station
Stand D on Infirmary Street
Stand Y10 opposite the Central Library
Stand Y14 opposite the Combined Courts
Service 56 – buses every 10 minutes
City Centre stops
Stand G6 on Eastgate
Stand J1 on Albion Street
Services 19/A
Full route: Ireland Wood/Tinshill-Spen Lane-Queenswood Drive-Headingley (Stadium)-Cardigan Road-Burley Road-City Centre-York Road-Halton-Whitkirk-Colton-Garforth.
Service 56
Full route: Moor Grange-Queenswood Drive-Headingley (Stadium)-Hyde Park-University-City Centre-York Road-Cross Gates-Swarcliffe-Whinmoor
Headingley ground guide: Click here
Prediction?
Home advantage with the fans back in will surely aid Yorkshire, even if they were soundly beaten last time out by Birmingham.
NORTH GROUP
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SOUTH GROUP
Hampshire Hawks v Gloucestershire