Notts Outlaws wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Read is determined to have booked a home NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final by the end of the week.
The Outlaws are not yet assured a last-eight place – ahead of their final two group games away to Northants Steelbacks and Yorkshire Vikings this week – but Read has set his sights even higher.
Victory in both games will ensure Notts are at home in the quarter-finals for the fifth successive season, with a trip to Wantage Road first up tomorrow night.
“Our next two games will be tough against Northants who are reigning champions and Yorkshire at Headingley on Friday,” Read told the club’s official website.
“However, we are confident of picking up positive results as the whole side is playing some good cricket at the moment.
“The support we have here is fantastic. That’s why we will be doing everything we can to ensure we are back here for a quarter-final.”
The Outlaws do not have a good record at home in the last eight, however, losing their previous three knockout Twenty20 games at Trent Bridge.
They have won five of their seven home games this season and seamer Luke Fletcher admits turning around that record is driving the team.
“We know our record in knockout T20 isn’t great here, but we want to put that right and get to final’s day,” he added.
Their first hurdle to overcome is a Steelbacks side who will be bidding to keep their faltering title defence alive in front of their home fans.
Northants must win their last two games to stand any chance of progressing out of the group and hope other results go their way.
A poor net run-rate is also working against the Steelbacks, who can only catch fourth-placed Yorkshire.
Head coach David Ripley has named an unchanged 13-man squad from the team that suffered a 31-run defeat to Worcestershire Rapids last time out.