Lancashire Lightning go into this evening’s Roses clash with Yorkshire Vikings at Emirates Old Trafford knowing victory could see them reach the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals.
The rivals tied at Headingley earlier in the competition and Lancashire remarkably played out the same result yesterday evening versus Leicestershire Foxes.
A win in this and Lancashire’s last North Group game, on Sunday against Notts Outlaws who lead them on net run-rate, will seal a home fixture in the last eight.
Bottom side Yorkshire have all but pride left to play for and again rest captain Andrew Gale, who sat out Sunday’s loss to Notts having returned from a broken hand in last week’s LV= County Championship thrashing of Derbyshire.
Warwickshire Bears need to beat Gloucestershire Gladiators to keep alive their faint hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals. The hosts, who were dismissed for their lowest Twenty20 total of 73 in a 10-wicket defeat to Somerset on Sunday, continue to be led by Varun Chopra. Gloucestershire have little prospect of progressing from the Midlands, Wales & West Group.
Kent Spitfires are waiting on the fitness of skipper James Tredwell ahead of Sussex Sharks’ visit to Canterbury.
The England off-spinner hurt his ankle in Sunday’s surprise win over Hampshire Royals, with both South Group sides out of contention for the last eight.
Kent head coach Jimmy Adams, who has drafted Ben Harmison into his squad, said: "We had a little mishap with Treddy injuring his ankle so we will have to wait and see how that pans out.
“He rested it on Monday and has been working with the physio to hopefully be fit for the game. We will give him as long as possible and hope that he is involved."
Sussex will again have Callum Jackson behind the stumps in place of Ben Brown, who broke a finger in last week's championship game with Middlesex.