Lancashire vs Nottinghamshire Prediction & Match Preview – T20 Blast 2026
Match summary
Lancashire host Nottinghamshire at Old Trafford in a hot afternoon T20 Blast game. Likely XIs, pitch, weather, expected scores and our pick.
Match details
| Match | Lancashire vs Nottinghamshire, 16th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | T20 Blast 2026 |
| Date | 25 May 2026 |
| Start time | 3:00 pm GMT / 4:00 pm local |
| Venue | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Nottinghamshire |
| Toss pick | Lancashire |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Lancashire and Nottinghamshire meet at Emirates Old Trafford in the 16th match of the T20 Blast 2026, an afternoon fixture starting at 4:00 pm local time on Monday 25 May.
Lancashire, captained by Keaton Jennings, have Michael Jones, Matthew Hurst, Ben McDermott and Joseph Moores in their likely batting line-up, with Chris Green and Paul Coughlin providing all-round options. The bowling is led by Saqib Mahmood, James Anderson, Jack Blatherwick and Tom Hartley.
Nottinghamshire, led by Joe Clarke, have Ben Duckett and George Munsey at the top, with Jack Haynes and Tom Moores to follow and Lyndon James and Benny Howell adding depth. Olly Stone, Dillon Pennington and Mohammad Ali form the bowling group.
The conditions may well decide the match. A hot, dry afternoon should be good for batting once the new ball loses its sheen, but early wickets will matter, because Old Trafford often rewards seam bowlers in the powerplay. Nottinghamshire’s batting quality gives them a small edge in our preview.
Old Trafford normally offers a balanced surface with a slight edge to bowlers early on. Fast bowlers can find swing and seam, especially in overcast or humid air, making the powerplay testing. Once the ball ages, the pitch settles and batters can build partnerships and accelerate in the middle and death overs. The outfield is quick, and spinners may get some help later, though their impact is usually limited. A competitive total is about 165–180.
Very warm and sunny conditions are forecast for 4:00 pm local time, with temperatures around 30–31°C, which is unusually hot for the venue. Skies should be mostly clear with no significant threat of rain. Dry conditions should favour batting as the game goes on, though bowlers may tire in the heat.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 175–190 | – |
| Second innings | 165–180 | – |
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire’s strong top order of Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke looks well suited to a warm, dry day that should favour batting.
Toss pick: Lancashire
FAQ
Who is our pick for Lancashire vs Nottinghamshire?
Nottinghamshire, whose top order is suited to the warm, dry conditions.
What will the weather be like at Old Trafford?
Hot and sunny, around 30–31°C, with minimal cloud and no meaningful rain risk.
What is a par score here?
Our preview puts it at about 180, with early wickets crucial for bowling sides.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Lancashire
- Keaton Jenningsc
- Michael Jones
- Matthew Hurstwk
- Ben McDermott
- Joseph Moores
- Chris Green
- Paul Coughlin
- Tom Hartley
- Jack Blatherwick
- Saqib Mahmood
- James Anderson
Nottinghamshire
- Ben Duckett
- Joe Clarkec
- George Munsey
- Jack Haynes
- Tom Mooreswk
- Lyndon James
- Benny Howell
- Joe Pocklington
- Olly Stone
- Dillon Pennington
- Mohammad Ali