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The Vitality Blast North Group gets spicy as Northamptonshire Steelbacks lock horns with Lancashire Lightning at the County Ground, Northampton on 5th July at 11:00 PM. Both teams, currently residing in the top four, will be looking to bounce back from underwhelming performances before the break.
Northamptonshire: Batting Firepower Needs Bowling Support
Northamptonshire boasts a strong batting line-up, evident in their recent 208-run score against Leicestershire. Skipper David Willey (71 runs) led from the front, while contributions from Ricardo Vasconcelos, Sikander Raza, Ravi Bopara, and Matthew Breetzke propelled them to a dominant total. However, their bowling attack, despite Raphael Weatherall’s four-wicket haul, failed to defend the massive score, conceding a tie. Northamptonshire will need their bowlers to be more disciplined and consistent to complement their batting prowess.
Northamptonshire Predicted Playing XI:
Ricardo Vasconseales, Sikander Raza, David Willey, Ravi Bopara, Mathew Breetzke, Freddie Heldrich, Ben Sanderson, Raphael Weatherall, Saif Zain, Lewis McManus, Justin Broad
Lancashire: Rekindling Middle-Order Partnerships
Lancashire, on the other hand, has faltered in their chase recently. Their bowlers, with Saqib Mahmood and Jack Blatherick taking a combined five wickets, restricted the opposition to a modest 173 in their last outing. However, their middle-order batsmen, barring cameos from George Balderson, George Lavelle, Mathew Hurst, and Steven Croft, couldn’t convert starts, leading to a six-run defeat. Lancashire will be looking to solidify their middle-order partnerships to provide a strong foundation for their chase or a competitive total if they bat first.
Lancashire Predicted Playing XI:
Luke Wells, John Bohannon, Keaton Jennings, George Balderson, George Lavelle, Mathew Hurst, Steven Croft, Jack Blatherick, Luke Wood, Chris Green, Saqib Mahmood
Pitch and Weather Conditions:
The County Ground in Northampton is known for its flat and hard surface, offering good bounce and carry for the batters. Seam movement might be a factor early on, but the pitch is expected to flatten out as the innings progress, favoring high-scoring encounters. The weather forecast predicts a bright and sunny day with no rain interruptions.
Toss and Strategy:
Given the batting-friendly pitch, both captains might consider bowling first to restrict the opposition and chase down a target.
Match Prediction
Northamptonshire’s batting firepower, coupled with their home advantage, gives them a slight edge. However, Lancashire’s bowling attack, especially Chris Green’s economical spells, shouldn’t be underestimated. Expect a close contest with Northamptonshire emerging victorious, but Lancashire putting up a good fight.
Northamptonshire to win
