T20 Blast essentials: All you need to know ahead of Friday’s action

JACK BUTLER: All the information ahead of five fixtures from the North and Central Groups...

• T20 BLAST 2020 FIXTURES
• David Capel dies aged 57

NORTH GROUP

Lancashire Lightning vs Derbyshire Falcons 

Where: Aigburth, Liverpool 

When: Friday, September 4, 2:30pm

Lowdown: Lancashire are unbeaten, after two wins and two abandoned games. Their opponents, Derbyshire have lost both of their matches that haven't been lost to rain. 

One to watch: In Lancashire’s last game, Alex Davies hit 82 off 56, including five fours and four sixes. 

Weather: Infrequent sunny spells on a dry but cold day in Liverpool. 

Tickets: Match played behind closed doors.

Prediction: Lancashire

Notts Outlaws vs Leicestershire Foxes 

Where: Trent Bridge, Nottingham 

When: Friday, September 4, 6pm

Lowdown: Notts, who sit top of the North Group, face a Leicestershire side that recorded their first Blast win against Durham last time out. 

One to watch: Ben Duckett hit an unbeaten 86 in Notts’ six-wicket victory over Yorkshire. Off just 53 balls, the Notts batsman hit 10 fours and two sixes to chase down Yorkshire’s total with four balls to spare. 

Weather: Dry, with patchy sunny spells. Highs of 16 degrees.

Tickets: Match played behind closed doors.

Prediction: Notts Outlaws

^{All eyes will again be on Babar Azam}

Durham vs Yorkshire Vikings 

Where: Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street.

When: Friday, 4 September, 18.30 

Lowdown: Yorkshire will be without Joe Root - who has hit consecutive fifties in his two Blast appearances. Their opponents, Durham, sit bottom of the North Group and have lost the most games out of any side in this year’s competition. 

One to watch: Farhaan Behardien returns for Durham after his arrival was delayed due to travel restrictions. The 36-year-old averages 32.37 in 38 T20Is for South Africa. 

Weather: Some small showers could interrupt play at Chester-le-Street. 

Tickets: Match played behind closed doors.

Prediction: Yorkshire 

CENTRAL GROUP

Gloucestershire vs Worcestershire Rapids 

Venue: The Bristol County Ground, Bristol

Where: Friday, 4 September, 14.00 

Lowdown: After hitting 157 off their 12 vers, Gloucestershire then bowled out Birmingham for just 100 in their rain-affected victory at Edgbaston - Tom Smith taking a 5-for. They face the Worcestershire Rapids, who are yet to win a match in this year’s Blast. In their defeat to Somerset, stand-in skipper Ed Barnard was taken out of the attack after he bowled three no-balls in a row. 

One to watch: Last time out, Ian Cockbain hit a powerful and unbeaten 84 from 35 balls; a brutal display from the Gloucestershire opener that featured six fours and seven sixes. Expect him to take advantage of Worcestershire's out of form attack. 

Weather: Light cloud throughout, with rain showers possible but unlikely. 

Tickets: Match played behind closed doors.

Prediction: Gloucestershire

^{Lancashire will look to extend their unbeaten record}

Somerset vs Birmingham Bears 

Where: The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton. 

When: Friday, 4 September, 18.30 

Lowdown: Somerset have won their last two Blast matches and posted a huge 229 against Worcestershire on Thursday. The side skippered by Lewis Gregory face an out-of-form Birmingham Bears side that are yet to win in white-ball cricket this year. 

One to watch: Babar Azam returns for Somerset; he hit 42 against the Worcestershire Rapids, before chopping onto his stumps. Expect the No.1 ranked T20 Batsman to go big against the Bears. 

Weather: Light cloud through could see some rain disrupt play at Taunton. 

Tickets: Match played behind closed doors.

Prediction: Somerset

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