County can defy odds in hunt for fourth T20 title, says head coach
NIXON UPBEAT AHEAD OF TONIGHT’S QUARTER FINAL
HEAD coach Paul Nixon believes Leicestershire will upset the odds when they take on tournament favourites Nottinghamshire in the quarter-final of the Vitality Blast tonight, writes Richard Rae.
The Foxes play their biggest game for years when they take on the Outlaws in front of the television cameras at Trent Bridge (6pm start), having made it through to the final stages for only the second time since they last won the competition back in 2011.
Since then they have appeared in the quarter-finals only once, in 2017, when they were beaten by nine wickets by Glamorgan in Cardiff.
But Nixon is confident his young side will put up a much more competitive display.
“Yes, we’re the underdogs, but we usually are and we’ve shown this season how we come out fighting in those circumstances,” said Nixon.
“We’ve talked about that in our preparation, our practice.
“Notts are a good side and we massively respect them, but we have no fear – and they will fear us because they know we have beaten them this season.”
Leicestershire beat Nottinghamshire by four wickets at the Fischer County Ground two weeks ago, a game they had to win to stay in the competition.
They then had to beat Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, and did so by 22 runs, results which mean they have momentum and confidence going into tonight’s showdown.
The performance at Old Trafford showed how much progress has been made this season.
“Good teams have a calmness and structure about them,” Nixon said.
“You have to have a certain flexibility in T20 cricket because things can change very quickly, you can lose momentum, but you can grab it back in no time. Look at the Lancashire game – they looked like they were cruising it, then bang, bang, bang, and it’s a different game.
“We’re getting better and better and now is the time to peak. We have our structure, our analytics have been done, the guys know their roles thoroughly and it’s about executing.
Needing 155 to win, Lancashire were 112 for one before Leicestershire skipper Colin Ackermann took three wickets in five balls to change the game.
The Foxes’ bowlers will again have to be at their best to contain Nottinghamshire’s powerful batting line-up, the more so as the boundaries at Trent Bridge may be shorter than they were at Old Trafford.
However seamers Gavin Griffiths and Will Davis – who both have seven wickets in the competition – have impressed with their changes in
Notts are a good side and we massively respect them, but we have no fear
Head coach Paul Nixon
pace in recent matches, while leftarmer Dieter Klein has been outstanding since coming in for the departed Tom Taylor, conceding only 6.42 runs per over, the best economy rate in the side.
Spinners Ackermann (five wickets), Callum Parkinson (nine) and Gareth Delany (six) have all taken vital wickets, and the emergence of opener Nick Welch has added firepower at the top of the order.
A top five of Welch, Delany, Arron
Lilley, Ackermann and Lewis Hill is capable of taking any attack apart.
Nixon does have selectorial decisions to make however. Big-hitting all-rounder Ben Mike (shoulder) can bat but may not be able to bowl, and it is possible batsman Harry Dearden is preferred.
Either way, Nixon is confident of a good showing as Leicestershire, still the only county to have won the T20 three times, continue their bid to make it four.
“The bigger the game, the more you make sure you stay focused,” he said.
“We want to embrace the day, this is why we play cricket. We talked in pre-season about getting into big games. We believed we had the squad to do it, we’ve done it and now and we’re looking forward to it.”
■Leicestershire (probable):