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 Northants Steelbacks
Venue: Incora County Ground, Derby
Date: Thursday, June 17, 2021
Start time: 7:00pm
What’s the lowdown?
Both teams have got off to a very difficult start this year. They have lost three fixtures a piece, yet Derbyshire have recorded one victory from their extra game. Northants Steelbacks have been well below par in all the fixtures they’ve played, whether that been stumbling in pursuit of average totals, or struggling to keep teams below 200. They have a number of talented players in their squad and they will need to step up to kickstart their campaign.
Derbyshire Falcons have been relatively strong with the bat, posting competitive totals, but with the ball they have struggled to peg back some really strong teams in the North Group. They lost the opening fixture of the Vitality Blast against Lancashire Lightning, and if not for a victory against fellow strugglers Leicestershire, they would be even further adrift. They are currently seventh in the table.
Who’s in form?
For Northants there is very little to shout about. Josh Cobb is their leading run scorer with 91, but he was absent in the last game. With the ball, Tom Taylor has taken five wickets, whilst Ben Sanderson has taken four. They will need the talented Ricardo Vasconcelos and Richard Levi to start firing with the bat as soon as possible.
Leus du Plooy has enjoyed his most explosive start to a Blast season. He has scored 162 runs, which includes a career best 92. Luis Reece has been an all-round shining light for the side, scoring 131 at an average of 32.75, and leading the wicket taking charts with five wickets at 19.20.
What’s the team news?
Derbyshire Falcons: Coming soon.
Northant Steelbacks: Coming soon.
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Derbyshire Falcons: LLWLL
Northants Steelbacks: LLLLW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 12
Derbyshire Falcons wins: 5
Northants Steelbacks wins: 7
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 6
No result: 0
Latest Derbyshire Falcons news
Latest Northants Steelbacks news
What’s the weather forecast?
Derbyshire has a yellow warning for thunder on Thursday with heavy rain expected until mid-morning. If the match goes ahead, expect cloudy conditions and temperatures peaking around 17 degrees Celsius.
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?
Neither team has been at their best, but Northants in particular have struggled. Even with their own troubles the Falcons should have enough to secure victory. Derbyshire win.
OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES: THURSDAY, JUNE 17
North Group
South Group
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