Lancashire vs Leicestershire Prediction & Match Preview – T20 Blast 2026

Lancashire entertain Leicestershire at Emirates Old Trafford in the 21st match of the T20 Blast 2026, an evening fixture on Friday 29 May starting at 6:30 pm local time.

Lancashire, captained by Keaton Jennings, are expected to line up with Michael Jones, Matthew Hurst, Ben McDermott and Joseph Moores in the top order, plus Chris Green and Harry Singh. Saqib Mahmood, Tom Hartley, Jack Blatherwick and George Balderson make up the bowling.

Leicestershire, led by Ben Green, field a batting group with Stephen Eskinazi, Soloman Budinger, Rishi Patel, Nick Kelly and Ashton Turner, with Ben Cox as wicketkeeper. Liam Trevaskis, Ben Mike, Josh Davey and Josh Hull share the bowling duties.

Mild, slightly cloudy conditions should give the new ball some swing in Manchester, and a score of 180-plus looks competitive while anything under 170 could fall short. If dew arrives, the side batting second may benefit, so the toss winner is likely to field first. Lancashire’s home advantage and depth give them the edge.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

Old Trafford usually has a balanced surface, with a small advantage to bowlers early. Fast bowlers can find good swing and seam, particularly in overcast or humid conditions, which makes the powerplay challenging. As the ball gets older, the pitch settles and batters can build partnerships. The outfield is quick, and spin may offer some help later on. A competitive T20 total is around 165–180.

Weather

Mild and slightly cloudy at 6:30 pm local time, with temperatures around 19–21°C that cool as night falls. Passing cloud is possible but no significant rain threat is indicated. Light breezes could assist seamers early, and the conditions look fair for a full match.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 175–190
• 2nd innings: 165–180

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