Match Preview: Lancashire Lightning v Leicestershire Foxes, Vitality Blast Men

Match Preview: Lancashire Lightning v Leicestershire Foxes, Vitality Blast Men

Lancashire Lightning v Leicestershire Foxes 
Vitality Blast, Men
Friday May 29, 6.30pm
Emirates Old Trafford 

Lancashire are up and running in this season’s Blast courtesy of Monday’s convincing home win over Nottinghamshire.

The Red Rose beat the Outlaws by 39 runs at Emirates Old Trafford to bounce back from their opening night defeat at Surrey. Lancashire and Nottinghamshire have been amongst the most successful counties in terms of number of T20 matches won for the last few years, so to win in such impressive fashion will do wonders for their confidence. 

Next up are a Leicestershire Foxes side who have struggled for consistency in this format. 

They started life as a T20 side so impressively, winning the Blast in 2004, 2006 and then again in 2011. But they have only qualified for the quarter-finals twice in the last 14 years. 

This is another double header day at EOT, with Lancashire’s women also in action. 

The Thunder face Somerset from 2.30pm aiming for their first win in three matches.

Opposition 

Last season, the Foxes finished seventh out of nine teams in the North Group, winning six of their 14 matches. 

So far this campaign, they have played three, lost three. 

They have been beaten so far by Worcestershire, Durham and Derbyshire. The latter was at home last night when the Falcons racked up a total of 230-5 before the Foxes subsided to 145 all out in reply. 

Coached by Alfonso Thomas - he led them to Rothesay County Championship promotion last summer - they are captained by ex-Somerset Blast-winning all-rounder Ben Green.

Former Lancashire overseas batting all-rounder Ashton Turner is one of their overseas players for the Blast, alongside New Zealand batter Nick Kelly. Kiwi spinner Ajaz Patel is also available but is yet to feature. 

They have a number of experienced players in their side, the likes of Green, Stevie Eskinazi, Turner, Ben Cox and Josh Davey to name just a handful. 

In one-time England Test quick Josh Hull, they have one of the country’s brightest fast-bowling talents. 

The Foxes are missing England all-rounder Rehan Ahmed due to IPL commitments in India. 

Opposition player to watch 

Following a number of loan spells at the Uptonsteel County Ground, Grace Road, Ben Green signed permanently ahead of this season.

The seam-bowling all-rounder helped Somerset win the Blast in both 2023 and 2025.

In 2023, he was the second leading wicket-taker in the competition with 30. In 2025, he claimed 20 wickets for them.

Exeter-born Green, also a dangerous hitter down the order, has had success bowling in all phases of a T20 innings. 

Green, aged 28, replaced Louis Kimber in the captaincy role ahead of this season, with coach Alfonso Thomas saying: “Ben is someone who naturally commands respect. He’s calm, thoughtful and competitive, and those are qualities you want in a T20 captain.”

This season actually marks his first taste of white-ball cricket with Leicestershire. Over the last two seasons, he has only played in the County Championship for them. It indicates his quality that Somerset wanted him around for the two limited overs competitions. 

So far, he has taken three wickets in the opening three Blast matches this season. 

Previous meeting 

Leicestershire won the only Blast meeting between the two counties last season, by five wickets chasing 146 at Emirates Old Trafford at the start of June. 

England leg-spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed claimed an excellent 3-16 from four overs to limit the Lightning to 145-7, which included 39 for captain and opener Keaton Jennings and 36 not out for Chris Green. 

Australian Green’s innings helped the hosts recover from 95-6 in the 14th over, but ultimately it just wasn’t enough even though he struck early with the new ball in defence.

The off-spinner and Sir James Anderson reduced Leicestershire to 12-2, though a brisk 40 for captain Louis Kimber and a run-a-ball 38 not out for wicketkeeper-batter Ben Cox helped get the Foxes over the line with nine balls remaining.

What they said

Home is definitely where the heart is for Tom Hartley and his Lancashire team-mates. 

The Lightning got their Blast campaign up and running with a home victory over Nottinghamshire on Monday, bouncing back from Friday’s defeat to Surrey at the Kia Oval.

It was no major surprise, however, given just how strong a record the Red Rose have in this competition in matches at Emirates Old Trafford. 

Since the Blast started in 2003 - it has gone through various name changes over the last 23 years - Lancashire have only lost 30 matches at this venue. Talk about a fortress. 

Left-arm spinner Hartley, who claimed an excellent 4-20 in the Notts’ win as the Lightning successfully defended 209, said: “We ideally want to win every game here. 

“So to get one on the board, it just sets the template for how we want to play here. And, for a few of the younger lads, it just shows them how to win at Emirates Old Trafford. There'll be a lot of confidence going into Friday night.

“If you can win every home game, that gives you a really good chance of getting qualified, and that only means you only have to win a couple on the road.

“Not a lot of away wins have happened here. We had a run in 2021 and 2022 when we didn’t lose at home, and it becomes intimidating.

“It gives us a lot of confidence, knowing no matter the situation of the game, we always have that feeling that we're going to win.”

How’s Stat!