Cricket Betting Tips and Fantasy Cricket Match Predictions: Vitality Blast 2020 - Derbyshire Falcons vs Leicestershire Foxes

The opening round match of the Vitality Blast 2020 will be played between Derbyshire Falcons and Leicestershire Foxes at The Fischer County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester.

Derbyshire vs Leicestershire, North Group

Derbyshire Falcons finished at the 3rd spot in their Vitality Blast group last year. The team ended the group stage with 7 wins and 5 losses from 14 matches. They lost the semi-final against Essex.

They will be up against Leicestershire Foxes who finished at the bottom in their group after the league stage with 4 wins and 7 losses from 14 matches.

Wayne Madsen was the top scorer for Derbyshire Falcons in the last Blast season with 464 runs from 14 matches at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 146. He scored four half-centuries last year with the best of 69.

Ravi Rampaul picked up 23 wickets for Derbyshire Falcons from 14 matches with best figures of 3/17. He bowled at an average of 15 and an economy of 6.70.

Having made it to at least the quarter-finals in two of the last three seasons, hopes are high that Derbyshire can once again push for a place at the Edgbaston showpiece.

With the additions of Australia’s Sean Abbott and Ben McDermott, an in-form top-order that scored 14 half-centuries between them last year, and 2019’s leading Vitality Blast wicket-taker in Ravi Rampaul, the Falcons will again boast a strong side in 2020.

Colin Ackermann was the highest run-scorer for Leicestershire Foxes last year with 342 runs from 13 matches at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 127. He scored two half-centuries with the best of 58.

Ackermann was their top wicket-taker as well and picked up 12 wickets from 13 matches with best figures of 7/18. He bowled at an average of 12 and an economy of 6.04.

Leicestershire also do have a 'wild card' in the form of Ireland international Gareth Delany, signed at short notice to replace Janneman Malan after the South African batting star was unable to travel due to pandemic restrictions.

Delany, 23, is a hard-hitting batsman who has played 28 times for Ireland in white-ball internationals and opened the batting in the recent Royal London Series against England. He also bowls useful leg-spin, adding another weapon to the Foxes' spinning armoury.

Let's have a look at the probable playing XI of both teams: 

Leicestershire - Mark Cosgrove, Harry Swindells, Arron Lilley, Colin Ackermann (c), Harry Dearden, Lewis Hill (wk), Callum Parkinson, Ben Mike, Dieter Klein, Gavin Griffiths, Will Davis/Gareth Delany,

Derbyshire - Luis Reece, Billy Godleman (c), Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Matthew Critchley, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Anuj Dal, Daryn Smit (wk), Logan van Beek, Ravi Rampaul

 

Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* - PrePlay

 

Who will win the toss? - Derbyshire

Who will win? – Derbyshire

Top Batsman (Runs Scored) – Wayne Madsen (Derbyshire), Colin Ackermann (Leicestershire)

Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Ravi Rampaul (Derbyshire), Colin Ackermann (Leicestershire)

Most Sixes – Wayne Madsen (Derbyshire), Colin Ackermann (Leicestershire)

Man of the Match –  Wayne Madsen

Team Scores Batting first – Derbyshire 190+, Leicestershire 170+

 Match Handicap Derbyshire

Live Cricket Streaming Vitality Blast 2020 - bet365's live cricket streaming page which enables you to watch live cricket. (BeGambleAware 18+)  Live Cricket Streaming from bet365 requires a funded account or for customers to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Geo-restrictions apply.

*NB these predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match once the final starting teams have been announced and we will be running ‘In–Play’ features, so stay tuned.

 

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