Notts Outlaws will be looking to build on their recent momentum in the NatWest T20 Blast when they make the short trip to Grace Road to face Leicestershire Foxes on Tuesday evening, 12 July 2016 (6.30pm start).

The Outlaws have won their last five completed matches and have stormed into the top two positions in the North Group with 13 points and would go above Northants Steelbacks with another victory.

Historically, Leicestershire Foxes have the best record of any side in this competition but they have struggled in this season’s Blast, with Sunday’s loss at Durham leaving them in ninth spot in the group, with just seven points from 10 matches.

Head To Head

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

They have met on 25 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 9 times. Five 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.

Three matches, in 2007, 2011 and 2015 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 was washed out, without a ball being bowled. The match was scheduled to be the final one in the qualifying stages and it denied Notts the opportunity of forging the victory they needed to advance.

Two years ago the Outlaws emerged victorious after a high-scoring contest in Leicester.

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.

At Trent Bridge in 2009 Matt Wood and Ali Brown put 119 on against Leicestershire Foxes, a stand which remains the Outlaws highest opening partnership in this format.

The highest third wicket partnership recorded against Notts was put on by Brad Hodge and James Taylor, when they added 121 for the Foxes at Grace Road in 2010.

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 two years ago 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) – county record

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 (Leics) – (264666 at 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.

Current Outlaws players Stuart Broad, Harry Gurney and Greg Smith all began their professional careers at Grace Road, whilst others to have represented both county sides include: Vasbert Drakes, AJ Harris, Will Jefferson, Nadeem Malik, David Millns, Kevin O’Brien, Charlie Shreck, Richard Stemp, Peter Such and James Taylor.

South African international Farhaan Behardien made his debut in English county cricket when he played for the Foxes on Friday evening.

In May 2014 Behardien played one Second XI championship match for Notts, away against Worcestershire. He scored 18 and took two catches in a Luke Fletcher hat-trick.

Did You Know?

Leicestershire Foxes have an outstanding record in the domestic T20 competition, winning the event on 3 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.

Milestones

Michael Lumb (975) needs 25 more runs to become the seventh player to reach 1,000 T20 runs for Notts, joining Patel, Hales, Hussey, Wessels, Read and Voges.

Greg Smith (970) needs 30 runs to reach 1,000 runs in T20 cricket.

Samit Patel (49) needs one more catch for 50 in T20 cricket.

Steven Mullaney (46) needs 4 more catches to reach 50 in T20 cricket – 45 of them have been for Notts, no-one has taken more for the county (Samit Patel has 41).

Harry Gurney (45) needs five wickets to become the fifth bowler to reach 50 T20 wickets for the Outlaws, joining  Patel, Mullaney, Pattinson and Fletcher.

Tickets

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

Coverage

With live scorecard, regular updates, photography and a link to the BBC’s live radio commentary, Trent Bridge Live is your perfect matchday companion.

 

Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information

Vs. Yorkshire Vikings – Friday 15 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS

Vs. Leicestershire Foxes – Friday 29 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS

Need more information? Call our ticket office on 0844 8118711.