Leicestershire vs Worcestershire, VITALITY T20 BLAST 2021, Today Match Prediction 18 July 2021

leic vs wor Match Prediction & Analysis

We are into the last day of the league games in the Vitality T20 Blast 2021. The 120th game would see the Leicestershire Foxes take on the Worcestershire Rapids at their home ground. The Foxes come into this game with a win against the Notts Outlaws, but they have been in poor form throughout the season. The Rapids on the other had has lost to the Birmingham Bears in the last game. 

In the earlier game between the two sides Worcestershire Rapids had registered an easy win against the Foxes. They have enjoyed good form in the latter half of the league games winning the last four out of six games. It will be interesting to see if the Foxes are able to end the otherwise ordinary season on a high.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Leicestershire Preview

Colin Ackermann’s side has won the last two games, but this has come too late for the side as they are out of the contention for place in the next round. In a thrilling game that went down to the wire the side registered a 2-win win against Notts Outlaws. As they play their last game of the season, Ackermann would want to end on a high and avenge their loss against the Rapids earlier in the season. 

Josh Inglis looks in good form and he would look to start the innings well along with youngster Rishi Patel. In the middle order Arron Lilley and Ackermann played well in the last game and shall look to continue from where they had left. It is the lower middle order that will have to come up with contributions in this game as they have been in poor form. Lewis Hill, Louis Kimber and Harry Swindells have to score runs for the side to have a shot at victory. 

Their bowling attack has struggled throughout the season and a good show would be expected from Callum Parkinson and Naveen-ul-Haq in this game. Lilley made the difference between the two sides with his tight bowling in the last game and the same would be expected from him. The likes of Gavin Griffiths, Ben Mike and Ackermann would also be expected to bowl tight lines.

Leicestershire Predicted Playing XI:

Colin Ackermann (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Rishi Patel, Arron Lilley, Harry Swindells, Lewis Hill, Louis Kimber, Ben Mike, Callum Parkinson, Naveen-ul-Haq, Gavin Griffiths

Leicestershire Actual Playing XI:

Naveen-ul-Haq, Gavin Griffiths, Callum Parkinson, Lewis Hill, Colin Ackermann, Josh Inglis, Ben Mike, Harry Swindells, Louis Kimber, Arron Lilley, Rishi Patel

Worcestershire Preview

Ben Cox would be upset with the 17-run loss against Birmingham Bears in the last game. They failed to grab the opportunities that had come their way in the game. They are sitting 4th on the points table with a one point lead over the Bears and have to win this one to make it to the quarterfinals. Having defeated the Foxes earlier, Cox would want his side to take inspiration from that win. 

Brett D’Oliveira has done well so far in the tournament and shall look to provide a good start with Jack Haynes. In the middle order Jake Lobby and Daryl Mitchell are in good form and the side would expect a good show from them here. They have good depth in the batting with Daryl Mitchell, Ben Cox, Ross Whitely and Ed Barnard to follow. 

Their bowlers had done a good job in the last game with Dillon Pennington and Ish Sodhi bowling well in the game and shall look to continue with the same form. Ben Dwarshuis had an extremely bad day and shall have to make amends. The side would also expect tight spells from Charlie Morris, Barnard and Brett D’Oliveira. 

Worcestershire Predicted Playing XI:

Ben Cox (c & wk), Riki Wessels, Brett D’Oliveira, Jake Libby, Tom Fell, Ross Whiteley, Ed Barnard, Ben Dwarshuis, Ish Sodhi, Dillon Pennington, Charlie Morris

Worcestershire Actual Playing XI:

Jake Libby, Ish Sodhi, Ben Cox, Dillon Pennington, Jack Haynes, Ben Dwarshuis, Ed Barnard, Daryl Mitchell, Charlie Morris, Brett D Oliveira, Ross Whiteley

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies would be clear over Leicester on July 18 and the track should be a good one to bat on. The conditions would the best they have been in this tournament as the track has been used for many games and lost the grass cover. The side that bats first here would have a target score of above 180 runs in mind.

Venue Details

Grace Road, Leicester is a smaller ground in comparison to most other venues in England and batsmen have enjoyed good success here in the past. However, the track also offers good assistance to the fast bowlers with the new ball. It has generally been a venue where spinners have struggled in the past.

Toss: To Bowl

The last two games have seen the side chasing scores winning the game. There is some movement for the bowlers early in the game and this creates problems for the batsmen. The track eases as the game progresses and hence the side winning the toss here would have no hesitation in bowling first.