T20 Blast Essentials: Yorkshire Vikings v Leicestershire Foxes

Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, and everything else you need to know ahead of the Vitality T20 Blast match

The Cricketer | 15/06/2021 at 13:07

Fixture: Yorkshire Vikings v Leicestershire Foxes

Venue: Emerald Headingley, Leeds

Dates: Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Start time: 6.30pm

What's the lowdown?

Yorkshire got their 2021 campaign off to a promising start, with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Birmingham Bears. However, despite a half-century from opener Jonny Bairstow, the Vikings were no match for Durham in their second game of the white-ball season, losing by 20 runs at Chester-le-Street.

Leicestershire, meanwhile, are one of four teams still searching for their first win of the season. Colin Ackermann's side suffered a 16-run defeat at the hands of Lancashire Lightning in their season opener before losing by 23 runs to Derbyshire 24 hours later.

And things only got worse against Durham. In the 19th over, Leicestershire conceded 24 runs and saw overseas spinner Naveen-ul-Haq ordered out of the attack for bowling two head-high no balls. The Foxes lost by two wickets with six balls remaining.

Who's in form?

Jonny Bairstow looks in good touch with the bat. Against Birmingham, his first T20 Blast appearance since Finals Day in 2016, he scored a 22-ball 34 and followed it up with 67 runs (50 balls) against Durham. Young Harry Brook is the only other Viking to get close to a half-century, scoring 41 (27) in the north-east.

With the ball, Jordan Thompson continues to outshine England's Adil Rashid and overseas player Lockie Ferguson, with seven wickets and an economy of 8.37 in two appearances.

For Leicestershire, Scott Steel has scored two fifties in three appearances, posting 54 not out and 53 either side of his duck against Derbyshire. Captain Ackermann has been the pick of Leicestershire's bowlers, producing three typically miserly performances and taking four wickets - one behind Naveen and Gavin Griffiths.

What's the team news?

Yorkshire: Matt Fisher returns from an abdominal injury while Dom Bess earns a recall after being with England.

Yorkshire squad: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Dominic Bess, Harry Brook, Lockie Ferguson, Will Fraine, Matthew Fisher, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jordan Thompson, Matthew Waite, David Willey (c)

Leicestershire: Head coach Paul Nixon has named the same squad that has featured in Leicestershire's first three fixtures, despite them still waiting for a victory.

Leicestershire squad: Colin Ackermann (c), Ed Barnes, Will Davis, Gavin Griffiths, Lewis Hill, Josh Inglis (wk), Louis Kimber, Arron Lilley, Ben Mike, Naveen, Rishi Patel, Callum Parkinson, Scott Steel, Harry Swindells (wk)

Latest Yorkshire news: Click here

Latest Leicestershire news: Click here

Last five T20 matches (most recent first)

Yorkshire: LWWLL

Leicestershire: LLLTW

Head-to-head T20 record

Total matches: 23

Yorkshire wins: 9

Leicestershire wins: 13

Tied: 1

No result: 0

Abandoned: 4

What's the weather forecast?

A glorious evening expected in Leeds with sunshine and temperatures hovering around 21 degrees Celsius when play gets underway.

Keep up to date with the MetOffice's rolling forecast for Headingley: Click here

How do I follow the match?

TV/stream: The ECB are offering a streaming service which can be found here. A live stream is also available on yorkshireccc.com

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

Yorkshire versus Leicestershire will be played in front of a reduced crowd in line with the government's most recent Covid-19 guidelines.

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 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