MATCH PREVIEW: Lancashire Lightning vs Northants Steelbacks
Lancashire are 99.9 percent through to the quarter-finals for the 16th time in 20 attempts since the Vitality Blast was introduced back in 2003.
Lancashire Lightning v Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Vitality Blast, North Group
Sunday July 2, 2023, 2.30pm
Emirates Old Trafford
Match Sponsored by C&C Insurance Brokers
This is the 21st edition of the Blast, which has gone through various formats and titles across the years. In 2003, in fact, there were no quarter-finals.
It’s an unbelievable record the Lightning have. There is a scenario which could see us miss out, but to simplify things, it’s the longest of long shots that the county would miss out.
But there remains work to be done, as we’re aiming for a home quarter-final next Thursday or Friday.
Liam Livingstone and co sit on 15 points and second in the North Group, so his team are on course to achieve that goal. The Lightning are level with third-placed Worcestershire with a better net run-rate and one point clear of Nottinghamshire in fourth - again with a better NRR.
Lancashire will secure a home tie with a win and ensuring they maintain a superior net run-rate over Worcestershire, who travel to Derbyshire.
Notts face Leicestershire at home. If Lancashire win, Notts can’t catch them.
Northamptonshire just about still in contention for the quarter-finals on 12 points in seventh place, but they must win here and hope for defeats for Notts at home to Leicestershire and Worcester to win at Derbyshire.
Opposition:
The two-time champions Steelbacks have won six and lost seven of their 13 matches so far.
A slow start to the competition looks set to cost David Willey and company dear when you consider that since losing to Lancashire at Wantage Road midway through last month, they have actually won three of their last four matches.
They started the competition with three losses in their first four.
England fringe white ball all-rounder Willey has returned to Northampton from Yorkshire and has immediately taken over the captaincy in this competition. They are also coached by former batter John Sadler.
Northamptonshire were champions in in 2013 and 2016.
They have employed Australian overseas duo Chris Lynn and AJ Tye.
Explosive Lynn is their joint leading run-scorer in this season’s Blast with 329, alongside Ricardo Vasconcelos. Seamer Tye, a serial Big Bash winner with Perth, is their leading wicket-taker with 19.
Opposing player to watch:
If Chris Lynn gets going, it might not be great news for Lancashire. But it will be exciting to watch.
There’s a reason they nickname him Lynnsanity Down Under.
He is a master at clearing the boundary rope, whether it’s as an opening batter or a bit further down in the top order. He has been batting at three for the Steelbacks.
Queenslander Lynn, 33, has also played 22 internationals for Australia, including 18 T20Is, and nothing since late 2018. That owes much to a chronic shoulder issue. Keep an eye on him throwing in this fixture and you’ll see what we mean.
Lynn has been one of the hottest commodities going around in T20 cricket. He’s had more clubs than Tiger Woods. From Mumbai Indians to Winnipeg Hawks. It would be mightily impressive if even he could remember them all.
Previous meeting:
Steven Croft scored a stunning century - his first in T20 cricket - as the Lightning brushed aside the Steelbacks by 35 runs at Wantage Road on June 16.
After a mid-campaign wobble, Lancashire got their quarter-final bid firmly back on track as they comfortably defended a target of 205.
Croft’s brilliant 101 off 52 balls from number four helped Lancashire recover from 25-3 in the fifth over having been inserted. He shared 146 for the fourth wicket with Daryl Mitchell, who ably supported him with a vital 48.
It meant the visitors posted what proved an unassailable 204-7.
In reply, the Steelbacks slumped badly to 95-7 before at least recovering to 169-9.
Luke Wood claimed 3-39 from four overs, while Mitchell and Luke Wells also added two wickets apiece. Seamer Tom Taylor top-scored with 40 not out from number eight.
Lancashire won their fifth game in nine and second in a row.
What they said:
Lancashire have not lost at Emirates Old Trafford in the Blast since the final group game of the 2020 summer when Leicestershire claimed a victory.
It’s no surprise, therefore, to hear Jos Buttler talk up the importance of securing a top two finish in the North Group and thus a home quarter-final late next week.
The England white ball captain and star Lightning opener said: “Our record here adds a lot of value to having a home quarter-final. We like playing here.
“For the club, having a home quarter-final would be fantastic. We’ll try and fill this place out if that happens.”
And on the frustration of missing out on playing a Roses game last night, Buttler added: “Whether you’ve played loads of games and are an experienced player or whether you’re a young player, these Roses games are the nights you want to be a part of.”
How’s Stat!
Out of the 20 seasons, Lancashire have only missed out on the quarter-finals on four occasions. They were in 2006, 2012, 2016 and 2017.