Lancashire vs Northamptonshire, Royal London One-Day Cup, Today Match Prediction 24 Apr 2019

lancs vs north Match Prediction & Analysis

Hosts Lancashire will look to turn their fortunes around when they will face Northamptonshire in the North Group game of the Royal London One-Day Cup at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday. 

Lancashire managed to break their two-match losing streak by beating Yorkshire in the previous game played on Sunday. Captain Dane Vilas will be hoping that side can improve their game with the bat and ball in order to continue their good form in the competition.

On the other hand, Northamptonshire also registered a comprehensive 194-run win over Warwickshire in a game played at County Ground, Northampton. Captain Alex Wakely will be hoping that side can continue their good form in this game as well.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Lancashire Preview

Despite winning their previous game, Lancashire is still lying at the bottom of the league table with 2 points to their name. Skipper Dane Vilas will be hoping that the side produced a clinical performance in their home fixture.

In the batting department, the team will be depending heavily on middle-order batsman Steven Croft and wicket-keeper Dane Vilas, both of whom have already scored 239 and 216 runs at averages of 119.50 and 72.00 respectively. Croft once again was the standout performer for Lancashire in the previous game played against Yorkshire. He produced splendid innings at a time when Yorkshire was reduced to 116 for 4 after 22.3 overs. Croft joined hands with Rob Jones and put on a 120-run partnership to help Lancashire post 311 runs in their 50 overs. He scored 97 runs off 117 balls with the help of nine boundaries and certainly anchored the innings for Lancashire in the previous game.

Haseeb Hameed, Dane Vilas, and Glenn Maxwell chipped in with decent scores in the previous game.

Rob Jones proved to be the ideal partner for Steven Croft and chipped in with a brisk half-century. He scored 65 off 51 balls with the help of six fours and a six.

All-rounder Josh Bohannon also produced a quick-fire half-century to help Lancashire push their score beyond the 300-run mark. He scored 55 off 32 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. 

Bohannon added 68 with Liam Hunt to see Lancashire add vital runs in the later stages of the innings.

In the bowling department, Graham Onions and Saqib Mahmood bowled well in the previous game and picked up four wickets between them. Leg-spinner Matthew Parkinson also had a good outing with the ball and picked up two wickets against Yorkshire. Glenn Maxwell and Liam Hunt also picked up crucial wickets in the previous game.

Lancashire Predicted Playing XI:

Keaton Jennings, Glenn Maxwell, Dane Vilas (c), Liam Hunt, Haseeb Hameed, Saqib Mahmood, Steven Croft, Josh Bohannon, Rob Jones, Matt Parkinson, Graham Onions

Northamptonshire Preview

Alex Wakely-led unit finally managed to break their two-match losing streak in the competition after comfortably brushing aside Warwickshire in a game played at home. The side will be looking to build on this victory and strive for consistency with bat and ball in this game.

Opening batsman Richard Levi got the side off to a perfect start in their previous game. He smashed 48 off 37 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes to see Northamptonshire add 60-odd runs in the first eight overs of the innings.

The side will have concerns over the form of Joshua Cobb, who once again perished for a low score. He has managed to score only 15 runs in 3 innings at an average of 5.00.

Ricardo Vasconcelos also failed to capitalize on his good start against Warwickshire. He scored a quick-fire 19 runs with the help of two sixes.

Captain Alex Wakely led from the front with the bat. He put on an 86-run partnership with Rob Keogh to lay down an ideal platform for the likes of Adam Rossington and Jason Holder to go berserk at the end.

The middle-order consisting of Alex Wakely, Rob Keogh, and Adam Rossington chipped in with half-centuries for Northamptonshire in the previous game. All-rounder Jason Holder has been in imperious form with the bat and scored unbeaten 60 off 31 balls to help Northamptonshire post a mammoth 358 runs in their 50 overs.

In the bowling department, the pace trio of Blessing Muzarabani, Jason Holder and Ben Sanderson did most of the damage in the previous game and picked up nine wickets between them. Nathan Buck was expensive in the previous game and picked up one wicket against Warwickshire.

Northamptonshire Predicted Playing XI:

Alex Wakely (c), Ricardo Vasconcelos, Joshua Cobb, Richard Levi, Ben Sanderson, Blessing Muzarabani, Rob Keogh, Luke Procter, Jason Holder, Adam Rossington, Nathan Buck

Weather Conditions

The wicket prepared for the game will be excellent for batting. The spinners will get some assistance from Old Trafford pitch. The weather forecast for the game is not that ideal as rain is expected to play a big role.

Venue

Lancashire suffered defeat in the previous game played at Old Trafford, Manchester. The side will be looking to register a win in their home fixture. Northamptonshire will take heart from the fact they have won their last four games against Lancashire in the competition.

Toss: To Bat

Both sides will be looking to win the toss and put big runs on the board.  The quick bowlers will need to toil hard for their wickets. Batting first is the right choice as the pitch tends to become sluggish in the second half of the game.