MATCH PREVIEW: Lancashire Lightning vs Notts Outlaws
Things are looking all Red Rosey at the start of the Vitality Blast for the Lightning, who have started with a pair of convincing wins over Derbyshire and Leicestershire. Now they will be aiming to make it a hat-trick of wins over East Midlands counties when Nottinghamshire Outlaws visit Emirates Old Trafford.
Lancashire Lightning v Notts Outlaws
Vitality Blast, North Group
Saturday May 27, 2023, 6.30pm
Emirates Old Trafford
Derbyshire were brushed aside by four wickets at Edgbaston on Saturday before Leicestershire were dismantled by eight wickets yesterday - Lancashire will take some stopping if those two performances are anything to go by.
It’s a mouthwatering prospect to think that Jos Buttler will be available from next week.
This will be the second fixture in 48 hours for two-time champions Notts, who begin their campaign at home to Derbyshire this evening (Friday).
Yesterday’s star Luke Wood, who claimed 3-11 to stun the Foxes in his 100th career T20 appearance, will face his former county.
Lancashire Lightning squad:
Liam Livingstone (c), Tom Bailey, George Bell, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Hartley, Rob Jones, Saqib Mahmood, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Parkinson, Phil Salt, Dane Vilas, Luke Wells, Luke Wood
Opposition:
Notts are aiming to bounce back from a rare failure in last season’s Blast, them finishing fifth in the North Group and missing out on a quarter-final berth due to an inferior net run-rate to Yorkshire. It was only the second time in 13 seasons they had failed to reach the last eight.
The Outlaws are targeting their third Blast title having won the event in 2017 and 2020, the latter seeing them beat Lancashire in the semi-final at Edgbaston.
Steven Mullaney has been appointed as their new Blast captain, replacing retired Australian all-rounder Dan Christian. They will have the likes of Alex Hales and Joe Clarke at their disposal, while their overseas signings are two eye-catching ones.
They have recruited New Zealand batter Colin Munro, no doubt piggy-backing on the success the powerful left-hander had with the Trent Rockets in last season’s Hundred.
Coach Peter Moores has also recruited Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, the tall left-armer.
One question-mark surrounds the unavailability of last season’s top run-scorer for them, Ben Duckett (396) due to England Test duty. Experienced former England seamer Jake Ball was their leading wicket-taker in 2022 with 18.
Opposing player to watch:
You can’t look any further than overseas signing Shaheen Shah Afridi, the big left-arm quick who has spearheaded Pakistan’s progression across all formats in the last few years.
It is quite a coup for the county to sign the 23-year-old Lahore Qalandars captain, a player who has already taken 233 international wickets across all formats.
Afridi has pace and skill and has a best of 6-19 to his name in his T20 career.
He will also bring significant captaincy nouse to help Mullaney, with him having led the Qalandars to the last two titles in the Pakistan Super League competition.
Previous meeting:
Lancashire completed the Blast double over Notts last year, winning by 87 runs at Trent Bridge at the end of May and then seeing them off by six wickets at Blackpool in late June.
Batting first at Stanley Park, the Outlaws lost wickets at regular intervals in 179-7, a total stymied as Tom Hartley led the way with 2-27 from four overs. The left-arm spinner took the new ball.
In reply, the Lightning cruised to their target for the loss of four wickets with 10 balls remaining.
Having lost two wickets on 31, Steven Croft and captain Dane Vilas, who both hit half-centuries, completed a crucial stand of 114 inside 11 overs for the third wicket.
While Vilas made 55 off 30 balls, Croft finished 61 not out off 44 on his home ground. It was a result which went a long way to ensuring a top two finish in the North Group.
What they said:
Luke Wood is relishing the prospect of facing his former county, whom he left ahead of the 2020 summer.
Left-arm quick Wood, who came through the age-groups at Trent Bridge, believes he is a much improved bowler now than he was when he left Nottingham.
Since then, of course, he has progressed through to senior England honours, playing one one-day and two T20 internationals for his country.
“It’s always good fun playing against Notts, my former team,” he said before talking about the improvements in his game.
“The dynamic of my game is very similar, but I feel like I’ve improved a lot skills and confidence wise. Having played around the world has helped me a lot, being involved with the England and franchise stuff.”
Wood was a travelling reserve when England won the T20 World Cup in Australia back in November, and their next significant white ball assignment is the defence of the 50-over title they won on home soil in 2019.
That comes in India at the end of the year, and the 27-year-old would love to be there.
He added: “Any time you’re in the spotlight, it’s only for a good reason.
“I want to push my case to be involved in that set-up again down the line. I’ve spoken to (England managing director of cricket) Rob Key, and my way of doing that is by performing for Lancashire.”
How’s Stat!
Last season’s pair of victories over Notts was the first time since 2009 that Lancashire had completed the Blast double over them.
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