Lancashire Lightning will host Leicestershire Foxes at Old Trafford in Manchester in what promises to be a pivotal fixture in the 2025 T20 Blast campaign. The home side enters the contest with three consecutive victories and a strong record at their iconic home ground, where conditions often suit their well-rounded squad.
Lancashire began their campaign with a tight contest at Old Trafford but followed it up with a much more convincing home win. Their most recent outing came away from home against Durham, where the side successfully chased a 151-run target despite facing frequent wicket losses. It was the depth in their batting, combined with experience in the bowling ranks, that helped them maintain their unbeaten run.
Lancashire Overview
Lancashire Lightning are set to face Leicestershire Foxes at Old Trafford in Manchester, aiming to continue their strong campaign in the 2025 T20 Blast with a fourth consecutive victory. The home side has already demonstrated resilience and dominance across their first three matches, including two fixtures played at this venue—one closely fought and the other a comprehensive win.
Veteran pacer James Anderson played a significant role in Lancashire’s most recent triumph against Durham at the Riverside Ground. The 42-year-old returned with figures of 3 for 17, bolstering an already versatile bowling lineup. Lancashire’s strength lies not only in their consistent attack but also in a deep batting order featuring powerful hitters capable of accelerating at key moments.
Openers Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells are expected to take advantage of the favorable batting conditions in Manchester. Jennings, who also leads the side, will likely rely on strong starts in the powerplay to set the tone. While Lancashire had to fight hard in their last match chasing 151, contributions from the lower-middle order ensured they got over the line, highlighting the value of players like Ashton Turner, Josh Bohannon, and Chris Green.
Turner, who has recently been repositioned to bat lower down the order, is considered a better fit as a finisher than a top-order anchor. Middle-order batters Matthew Hurst and Michael Jones have also shown composure and potential, adding further balance to the side.
Bowling options remain plentiful for Lancashire, with Charlie Barnard impressing in his previous appearance at Old Trafford. Alongside Anderson and Green, the pace duo of Thomas Aspinwall and Jack Blatherwick gives Lancashire a broad range of tactical options across conditions.
Lancashire Players
Lancashire Lightning Predicted XI: Keaton Jennings (c), Luke Wells, Matthew Hurst (wk), Michael Jones, Ashton Turner, Josh Bohannon, Chris Green, Jack Blatherwick, Thomas Aspinwall, Charlie Barnard, James Anderson
Leicestershire Overview
Leicestershire Foxes, who broke a long-running losing streak against Derbyshire in their season opener, will be aiming to bounce back following a dramatic batting collapse in their subsequent fixture. In that second match, the side lost five wickets for just 18 runs, raising questions about stability in their middle order.
Captain Louis Kimber is expected to rely on experienced batters such as Shan Masood, Lewis Hill, and Ben Cox to stabilize the innings in this key fixture. Cox, also the wicketkeeper, and Hill have yet to make significant contributions this season and will need to step up to counter Lancashire’s in-form attack.
Opening pair Rishi Patel and Soloman Budinger had a promising start to the tournament, compiling a 71-run stand while chasing 171 in the first game. Budinger’s explosive 51 off 17 balls was a standout performance, and the team will hope the openers can deliver again to set a solid foundation.
Shan Masood, currently positioned at number four, is also under the spotlight after a slow start to the tournament. A return to form for the Pakistani batter could help ease pressure on the fragile middle order. With multiple away games early in the schedule, Leicestershire are under pressure to find consistency before falling behind in the standings.
In the bowling department, the Foxes possess a capable attack featuring Logan van Beek, Roman Walker, and Matt Salisbury. Their disciplined spells were instrumental in defending a below-par score in the opening fixture, and the unit is expected to play a critical role again against a strong Lancashire lineup.
Leicestershire Players
Leicestershire Foxes Predicted XI: Rishi Patel, Soloman Budinger, Louis Kimber (c), Shan Masood, Lewis Hill, Ben Cox (wk), Liam Trevaskis, Logan van Beek, Tom Scriven, Matt Salisbury, Roman Walker
Lancashire vs Leicestershire Standings
Name | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | PTs | NRR | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SUSS | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2.4 |
NOR | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0.5 |
LAN | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
HAM | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5.3 |
GLAM | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2.06 |
WOR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.34 |
KENT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.2 |
LEI | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.13 |
DURH | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
SOM | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
NOT | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.89 |
ESS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DER | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.66 |
SURR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.94 |
BB | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.45 |
Lancashire vs Leicestershire Weather Report
Weather forecasts indicate light rain earlier in the day in Manchester, with clearer conditions expected around match time. Evening cloud cover may persist, potentially assisting seam bowlers early in the innings. The pitch at Old Trafford typically offers good value for batters, especially in the early overs, making powerplay performances crucial.
Toss and Strategy Considerations
Recent T20 Blast records at Old Trafford show an even split, with teams batting first winning four of the last eight matches. Given the firepower in both teams’ bowling attacks, defending a target may offer strategic benefits, particularly if early wickets can be taken under cloudier conditions.
Prediction
Lancashire Lightning enter the contest as the clear form team, having won seven of their last eight home matches. Their combination of experienced bowling, adaptable batting, and depth in both departments positions them as favorites. For Leicestershire Foxes, improvement in middle-order batting and maintaining bowling pressure will be essential to remain competitive. Without addressing these areas, the visitors face an uphill challenge at a venue where Lancashire rarely falter.
Prediction: Lancashire Lightning to win