Notts Outlaws play their final match in the group stages of this season’s NatWest T20 Blast competition, when they travel to Grace Road to face Leicestershire Foxes on Friday evening.

The Outlaws go into the contest in fifth place in the North group and know that they must secure a win and hope that other results go their way in order to secure a quarter-final berth for the sixth year in succession.

Northants Steelbacks are a point ahead of the Outlaws and host Durham Jets, whilst Lancashire Lightning, on the same number of points, go to New Road to face Worcestershire Rapids, who are already through.

Notts have a poorer net run rate than both of their rivals also, meaning they must win and hope for some help from one of the other grounds.

Head To Head

Notts Outlaws and Leicestershire Foxes have been regular opponents since the domestic T20 competition began in 2003.

They have met on 24 previous occasions, although the fixture has also suffered some bad luck with regards to the weather.

Leicestershire have been victorious on 11 occasions, whilst the Outlaws have won nine times. Four matches have fallen victim to poor conditions.

At Grace Road the head-to-head record lies in favour of the Foxes, who have recorded six wins to the Outlaws’ three, with the visitors’ triumphing in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Two matches, in 2007 and 2011, have fallen victim to the weather.

Of the remaining meetings, all were played at Trent Bridge, although the 2006 Final is technically classified as being at a neutral venue as Notts were the hosting county that season.

Last Time

Last season’s fixture at Grace Road saw the Outlaws emerge victorious in a high-scoring contest.

The visitors scored a mighty 220 for four in their 20 overs, with Riki Wessels top-scoring with 66 and Samit Patel contributing 63.

They added 74 between them, in 7.4 overs, to help speed the Outlaws past their previous best, 215 for six, achieved at home to Yorkshire four years ago.

In pursuit of their highest victory target of all-time, Leicestershire gave it a real go, with Greg Smith scoring 102, before closing on 196 for five.

Wessels arrived at the crease in the fourth over and he immediately went on the offensive, heaving Nathan Buck for three back-to-back maximums.

Buck, now with Lancashire, was harshly treated throughout and finished with figures of 4-0-60-0.

Greg Smith played the stand-out innings during the Foxes’ reply, rattling along to reach a brilliant century from only 52 balls, with 13 fours and four sixes.

His departure meant that 36 were required from the final two overs but Harry Gurney and Ajmal Shahzad closed things out with some effective death bowling to secure the two points.

History

Charles Dagnall, one of the current Test Match Special commentators, received the man of the match award after the 2004 clash against the Outlaws at Grace Road. The seamer returned figures of four for 22 in Leicestershire’s 40-run success. Amongst his victims was Kevin Pietersen, trapped lbw for nought, first ball.

Twenty20 Finals Day at Trent Bridge in 2006 didn’t go how the home supporters hoped. Notts Outlaws’ first participation at Finals Day saw them outclass Surrey in the semi-final to set up a showdown with Leicestershire Foxes in the final.

Batting first, the Foxes made 177 for two but the Outlaws came agonisingly close to their target before falling four runs short. There was a feeling that they were perhaps a little hard done by, with the final ball of the contest appearing to be above waist height before it was whacked over the ropes for six by Will Smith. Despite being under pressure from the crowd to award a no-ball, the umpires called time, both on the contest and also on Notts’ hopes.

On four separate occasions in T20 cricket the Outlaws have been on the receiving end as an opposition batsman has registered a century against them.

Incredibly, the feat has been achieved three times by Leicestershire batsmen. Jim Allenby scored 110 at Grave Road in 2009, Brad Hodge scored 103 there, a year later, and last season Greg Smith, now with Notts, posted 102 on the same ground. (Wes Durston of Derbyshire is the only other opposition batsman to score a century against Notts).

Stats (in all T20 matches between Notts & Leics)

Highest Team Total:

Notts: 220-4 (Grace Road, 2014)

Leics: 205-2 (Grace Road, 2009)

Highest Individual Score:

Notts: 73 DJ Hussey (Trent Bridge, 2011)

Leics: 110 J Allenby (Grace Road, 2009)

Best Bowling

Notts 4-19 SJ Mullaney (Grace Road, 2012)

Leics 5-13 AB McDonald (Trent Bridge, 2012) best by anyone v Notts

Most Runs off One Over

30 by Mark Ealham (Notts) off David Masters (264666 - Trent Bridge, 2006)

Played For Them Both

Given the close proximity of the two counties it’s no surprise that a significant number of players have represented both, particularly amongst the current generation.

Outlaws players Stuart Broad, James Taylor, Harry Gurney and Greg Smith all began their professional careers at Grace Road, whilst the Foxes’ roster for the this season includes Charlie Shreck and Kevin O’Brien, both having previously spent time at Trent Bridge.

Others to have represented both county sides include: Vasbert Drakes, AJ Harris, Will Jefferson, Nadeem Malik, David Millns, Richard Stemp and Peter Such.

Did You Know?

Leicestershire Foxes have an outstanding record in the domestic T20 competition, winning the event on three occasions, the only side to do so.

They have been victorious in 2004, 2006 and 2011 and also reached Finals Day in both 2003 and 2005.

Tickets

For admission prices and all other matchday information please refer to the official Leicestershire County Cricket Club website.

Coverage

If you are unable to make it to Grace Road for the match, then there will be full match commentary on BBC Radio Nottingham, also available on-line through the BBC Sport website and app.

Follow the live scorecard, regular text updates and radio commentary through your perfect match-day companion Trent Bridge Live.

 

Notts Outlaws will next be in action with the return of 50-over cricket for the Royal London One Day competition throughout July and August starting with a weekend at Welbeck Cricket Club. Don't miss out on the next step of our summer of cricket and secure your seats now.