OUTLAWS TO BEGIN BLAST DEFENCE WITH TRIP TO FACE WORCS RAPIDS

Notts outlaws will begin the defence of their Vitality Blast crown away to 2018 winners Worcestershire Rapids in front of the sky sports cameras.

All county one-day fixtures for the 2021 campaign were announced yesterday, with champions Notts opening the t20 competition against the Rapids at New Road on June 9.

this year’s competition will again see each county play 14 group matches for the chance to play in the quarter-finals on August 24-27.

Finals day will again be at Edgbaston, on september 18.

Fixtures in the Royal London 50 have also been announced, with Notts having the added incentive of potential home advantage in the final.

It is to be played at trent Bridge on August 19.

this season’s RL50 will be played across four weeks in July and August, at the same time as the ECB launches its new tournament, the Hundred. OUTLAWS FIXTURES

Vitality Blast: June 9 Worcestershire (a), June 11 Warwickshire (h), June 13 Northants (a), June 15 Durham (a), June 18 Derbyshire (h), June 20 Lancashire (a), June 22 Worcestershire (h), June 25 Derbyshire (a), June 26 Lancashire (h), July 1 Leicestershire (h), July 2 Warwickshire (a), July 9 Yorkshire (h), July 16 Leicestershire (a), July 18 Durham (h).

Royal London 50: July 25 Warwickshire (a), July 27 surrey (a), July 30 somerset (h), August 1 Leicestershire (h), August 4 Derbyshire (h), August 6 Yorkshire (a), August 8 Glamorgan (a), August 10 Northants (h).