Lancashire vs Durham Prediction & Match Preview – T20 Blast 100th Match

Lancashire host Durham at Emirates Old Trafford in the 100th match of the T20 Blast 2026 season, with a midday start on a day forecast to be warm and dry. It is the sort of fixture where early wickets and a controlled powerplay can shape the whole contest.

Lancashire’s probable side leans heavily on batting depth. Keaton Jennings captains and opens the order alongside the wicketkeeper Matthew Hurst, with Liam Livingstone, Marcus Harris, Joseph Moores and Ben McDermott behind them. Tom Hartley, Saqib Mahmood and Luke Wood give the attack a blend of spin and pace.

Durham are led by Alex Lees and could line up with Graham Clark, Colin Ackermann, Will Rhodes and Ben Raine in the main roles, with Nathan Sowter and Callum Parkinson providing spin. Their best chance is to take early wickets while the new ball moves, because the pitch tends to ease once it settles.

With the home advantage and the stronger-looking top order, our preview picks Lancashire. Durham are the side we expect to call correctly at the toss, with bowling first the likelier choice.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

Emirates Old Trafford usually offers a balanced surface with a slight early edge for the bowlers. Seamers can find swing and movement, particularly under cloud or in humid air, so the powerplay is a testing phase. As the ball ages the pitch settles and the quick outfield rewards well-timed strokes. Spin has a limited impact, and a competitive T20 total is generally in the 165–180 range.

Weather

Manchester is forecast to be warm and sunny for the midday start, with temperatures of 24–26°C, clear skies and little chance of rain. A light breeze and a firm, dry surface should mean consistent bounce and pace, which suits batters.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 160–175
• 2nd innings: 155–165

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