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Match 31 of the Vitality Blast 2025 brings a thrilling North Group clash between Lancashire Lightning and Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester . This is a top-of-the-table encounter with both teams in excellent form.
Northamptonshire have started the tournament brilliantly, winning their first four games and sitting comfortably at the top with 16 points. Lancashire are just behind them with 12 points from five matches. With high stakes and direct playoff implications on the line, this promises to be a high-intensity contest.
Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Lancashire Lightning vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks |
| Date | [Insert Date] |
| Venue | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester |
| Time | [Insert Time] IST |
| Competition | Vitality Blast 2025 – North Group |
Team Previews
Lancashire Lightning Preview
Lancashire Lightning began their Vitality Blast 2025 campaign in fine fashion, winning three of their first four games before suffering a narrow defeat against Leicestershire Foxes in their last match.
Captain Keaton Jennings has been in scintillating form, scoring 224 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 176.37 , anchoring the innings with consistency and aggression. Luke Wells has also contributed significantly with 138 runs at a strike rate of 157.
The bowling unit is led by veteran James Anderson , who has taken four wickets in two matches , despite being expensive. Thomas Aspinwall has impressed with five wickets in four games, while Chris Green offers control and experience in the middle overs.
With a strong batting core and a decent pace attack, Lancashire will look to bounce back and reclaim momentum in what could be a decisive game for their playoff hopes.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks Preview
Northamptonshire Steelbacks have had a dream start to the tournament, winning all four of their opening fixtures and storming to the top of the North Group with 16 points.
Their batting lineup is firing on all cylinders, led by Ravi Bopara , who has scored 167 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 141.52 , remaining not out in three of those matches. David Willey and Ricardo Vasconcelos have provided solid starts, while Saif Zaib and Lewis McManus offer depth in the middle order.
In bowling, Ben Sanderson has been the standout performer, taking 13 wickets in four matches at an economy of just 5.37 — one of the best records in the tournament. Lloyd Pope and Willey provide support with the ball, ensuring pressure remains on the opposition throughout the innings.
Steelbacks look like a complete team with balance, momentum, and confidence in abundance. They’ll be eager to continue their dominance and move closer to securing a playoff spot early.
Favourite Team to Win Today’s Match
| Favourite Team | Reason (100 words) |
|---|---|
| Northamptonshire Steelbacks | Strongest start to the season with four wins from four; balanced squad with consistent performers across batting and bowling. Ravi Bopara and Ben Sanderson in top form. Lancashire rely heavily on Jennings and lack depth in batting. Steelbacks’ momentum, better bowling options, and all-round strength give them the edge in this must-win clash. |
Fantasy Team XI (with Explanation)
| Player Name | Role | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keaton Jennings (c) | Batter / Captain | Lancashire | Top scorer for Lancashire; aggressive opener with great form. |
| Ravi Bopara (vc) | Batter / Vice-Captain | Northamptonshire | Key run-getter; reliable and consistent performer. |
| David Willey | All-rounder | Northamptonshire | Valuable contributions with both bat and ball; ideal fantasy pick. |
| Luke Wells | Batter | Lancashire | Solid opener; good strike rate and recent form. |
| Ricardo Vasconcelos | Batter | Northamptonshire | Explosive opener; can change the course of the game quickly. |
| Ben Sanderson | Bowler | Northamptonshire | Leading wicket-taker; economical and effective with the new ball. |
| Chris Green | All-rounder | Lancashire | Impact player with bat and ball; useful in death overs. |
| Tom Hartley | Bowler | Lancashire | Control spinner; takes key wickets in middle overs. |
| Lloyd Pope | Bowler | Northamptonshire | Smart left-arm spinner; adds variety and breaks partnerships. |
| Thomas Aspinwall | Bowler | Lancashire | Consistent pacer; picks up early wickets and maintains pressure. |
| Josh Bohannon | Batter | Northamptonshire | Dependable middle-order batter; rotates strike well. |
Captain & Vice-Captain Suggestions
- Captain : Keaton Jennings (LAN) – In-form opener; likely to anchor the innings.
- Vice-Captain : Ravi Bopara (NOR) – High impact with the bat and safe fantasy option.
Players to Avoid in Fantasy Teams
- Luke Procter (NOR) – Struggled with consistency; not a regular contributor.
- Michael Jones (NOR) – Lacks big scores or impactful bowling recently.
Squads
Lancashire Lightning Squad
- Keaton Jennings (c)
- Luke Wells
- Matthew Hurst (wk)
- Ashton Turner
- Josh Bohannon
- Chris Green
- Tom Hartley
- Thomas Aspinwall
- Charlie Barnard
- James Anderson
- Saif Zaib
Northamptonshire Steelbacks Squad
- David Willey (c)
- Ricardo Vasconcelos
- Matthew Breetzke
- Justin Broad
- Ravi Bopara
- Saif Zaib
- Lewis McManus (wk)
- Luke Procter
- Ben Sanderson
- George Scrimshaw
- Lloyd Pope
Probable Playing XI
| Lancashire Lightning | Northamptonshire Steelbacks |
|---|---|
| Keaton Jennings (c) | David Willey (c) |
| Luke Wells | Ricardo Vasconcelos |
| Matthew Hurst (wk) | Matthew Breetzke |
| Ashton Turner | Justin Broad |
| Josh Bohannon | Ravi Bopara |
| Chris Green | Saif Zaib |
| Tom Hartley | Lewis McManus (wk) |
| Thomas Aspinwall | Luke Procter |
| Charlie Barnard | Ben Sanderson |
| James Anderson | George Scrimshaw |
| Saif Zaib | Lloyd Pope |
Pitch Report
- Venue : Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
- Average First Innings Score : ~164
- Highest Score : 216/3 (by Lancashire vs Notts)
- Nature of Pitch : Balanced surface; helps seamers early, spinners later. Outfield is fast, aiding strokeplay.
- Expected Target : 180–190 should be competitive.
- Fielding Advantage : Chasing teams benefit from dew and slower pitch later in the night.
Toss Prediction
- Likely Outcome : Even chance for either side to win the toss.
- Decision : Bowl first. Cloudy conditions favor swing bowlers early; chasing under lights offers better visibility.
Winner Prediction
Northamptonshire Steelbacks are our predicted winners of this Vitality Blast 2025 encounter. They come into the match with a perfect record of four wins from four and boast a more balanced squad compared to Lancashire.
While Lancashire have shown promise, especially with the bat, they haven’t looked as dominant or settled as Northants. The Steelbacks’ depth in batting and superior bowling attack gives them the upper hand.
Back Northamptonshire Steelbacks to continue their winning streak in this crucial North Group clash.
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