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: Northamptonshire Steelbacks v Durham
Venue: County Ground, Northampton
Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
After a six-match winless start to the competition, which included five defeats, Northants have added some respectability to their campaign with three victories in their last four.
They jumped off the bottom of the North Group with victory over Leicestershire Foxes though only an unlikely series of results in the closing weeks of the group stage will see them qualify for the last eight.
Durham, meanwhile, have slightly grander designs than just ensuring they conclude the season in a respectable fashion. Currently occupying the third of fourth qualifying berths they're very much in contention for the knock-out stage.
However, a slight blip in form amid the loss of a host of players being forced to isolate means they can ill-afford too many more slips up before the group stage comes to an end next month.
They were the victims of the Steelbacks' first win, a nine-wicket thrashing at Chester-le-Street and a double defeat could have a major impact come the final evaluation.
Who’s in form?
Fit-again Josh Cobb was vital to Northants claiming their third win of the campaign, taking 2 for 19 with the ball and scoring 28 in the successful chase.
He has only featured three times due to a hamstring injury, but scores of 62 and 29 and his handy off-breaks make him a real asset alongside a bowling attack that finally appears to be firing.
Mohammad Nabi has led that effort since his introduction, taking four wickets and conceding runs at just 5.91 per over.
Amid Durham's handy batch of bowlers who like a dart at the back-end of the batting innings, it is hard not to immediately focus on Liam Trevaskis.
The 22-year-old's left-arm spin has yielded six wickets alongside an economy rate of 6.71 while his 65 tournament runs have come at strike rate of 171.05.
Cameron Bancroft showed his undoubted class against Birmingham Bears with a 60 to make him Durham's chief run-scorer but with Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes in the ranks there is plenty of support around.
What’s the team news?
Richard Levi returns in place of Adam Rossington for Northamptonshire.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks squad: Josh Cobb, Nathan Buck, Ben Curran, Brandon Glover, Freddie Heldreich, Rob Keogh, Mohammad Nabi, Wayne Parnell, Richard Levi, Ben Sanderson, Tom Taylor, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Graeme White, Saif Zaib
Liam Trevaskis is not available having come in close contact with a positive Covid-19 case. He has to complete a period of self-isolation.
Ally Evans' four-game loan from Cricket Scotland is over. Stuart Poynter and Jack Campbell return to the squad.
Durham squad: Cameron Bancroft, David Bedingham, Scott Borthwick, Harry Crawshaw, Jack Campbell, Graham Clark, Brydon Carse, Sean Dickson, Ned Eckersley, Matthew Potts, Stuart Poynter, Ben Raine, Ben Stokes
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Northamptonshire Steelbacks: WLWWL
Durham: WLLWA
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 18
Northamptonshire Steelbacks wins: 8
Durham wins: 8
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 3
No result: 2
Latest Northamptonshire Steelbacks news
What’s the weather forecast?
After a muggy afternoon, the skies are set to clear for play with temperatures sitting at a pleasant 17 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Northampton: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Tickets are on general sale priced at £25 for adults, £10 for juniors.
Click here to access the Northamptonshire box office.
Travel
Address: The County Ground, Abington Ave, Northampton NN1 4PR
By car: Take Junction 15 from the M1 Motorway onto the A508 (A45) towards Northampton.
Follow the dual carriageway for approximately 3 miles passing the Hilton Hotel, Marriott Hotel and Delapre Golf course on your left-hand side.
Keeping in the left-hand lane, take the next exit from the dual carriageway marked A428 Bedford and Town Centre.
Move into the middle lane as you approach the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road.
Take the second exit following signs for Abington / Kingsthorpe onto the Rushmere Road. Follow the Rushmere Road (A5095) across the junction with Billing Road and continue straight on through Abington Park to the traffic lights at the main junction with Wellingborough Road.
On foot
ENTRANCE VIA ABINGTON AVENUE
Cross the lights at the junction with the Wellingborough Road keeping in the left-hand lane.
Turn left at the traffic light filter into Abington Avenue.
The cricket ground entrance is approximately 300 yards along Abington Avenue on the left-hand side.
ENTRANCE VIA WANTAGE ROAD
Turn left at the traffic lights with the Wellingborough Road onto the Wellingborough Road itself.
Take the first right approximately 100 yards along into Wantage Road.
The entrance is approximately 500 yards along the Wantage Road on the right-hand side.
By bus: Buses are available from Northampton Bus Station every 10 minutes. The best services are either 1 or 16 – both head towards Weston Favell.
The bus stop is located by the Abington Public House, 30 seconds from the Wantage Road gates. The bus journey takes roughly seven minutes.
By train: Northampton Station sits on the halfway point of the London to Birmingham Line and enjoys frequent and speedy services to both cities.
Northampton Train Station is approximately a 30–40 minute walk from the County Ground.
Alternatively, there is a taxi rank outside the train station, the ground and is a five-minute drive.
How do I follow the match?
Northamptonshire 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?
Northants are facing Durham at a good time and already have one victory to their name this season. Don't bet against them to do the double.
OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30
North Group
Birmingham Bears v Yorkshire Vikings
South Group
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.