Cricket Prediction | DER vs LEI | Vitality Blast Men 2025 | North Group | June 14 – Can LEI Crush DER’s Hopes?

DER vs LEI Match Analysis

The North Group clash between Derbyshire and Leicestershire is set to take place on June 14, 2025, at the Birmingham venue. Both sides are eager to bounce back and gather valuable points in this fiercely competitive Vitality Blast season.

Throughout the season, Derbyshire has alternated between sparkling performances and inconsistent patches. Their bowling attack, led by Suranga Lakmal and Blair Tickner, has been competitive but occasionally leaked crucial runs.

Leicestershire have struggled to find their rhythm in the tournament so far, suffering heavy defeats that exposed their batting fragilities. Captain Louis Kimber’s side will look to regroup, especially with key players like Ajinkya Rahane and Paul Stirling.

Derbyshire vs Leicestershire Team Preview & Squads

Derbyshire

Samit Patel’s leadership isn’t flashy, but it’s that unshakeable calm that turns potential into performance for DER. His tactical acumen will be vital in navigating pressure situations.

Derbyshire’s batting lineup is bolstered by the likes of Aneurin Donald and Ross Whiteley, both capable of explosive innings. Luis Reece and David Lloyd add solidity in the middle order. The team has depth but will need to convert starts into big scores consistently.

The bowling unit is led by Suranga Lakmal and Blair Tickner, who provide good variety with pace and swing. Spin options like Mark Watt add control in the middle overs. The pace attack is supported by Zak Chappell and Pat Brown, giving Derbyshire a balanced bowling attack.

Despite a valiant push, DER’s pursuit of 169 against Durham fizzled out like a sparkler on a rainy night. Despite a fighting effort, they managed 152 in 19.3 overs, losing by 16 runs. The bowling did well to restrict Durham to 168/6 but the batting lineup failed to capitalize on starts.

Derbyshire Squad

Derbyshire Squad

Suranga Lakmal, Aneurin Donald, Mark Watt, David Lloyd, Samit Patel (C), Ross Whiteley, Blair Tickner, Daryn Dupavillon, Luis Reece, Brooke Guest (WK), Wayne Madsen, Billy Godleman, Zak Chappell, George Scrimshaw, Alex Thomson, Anuj Dal, Matt McKiernan, Tom Wood, Matthew Lamb, Pat Brown, Harry Came, Samuel Conners, Haider Ali, Ben William Aitchison, Nick Potts, Mitchell Wagstaff, Archie Harrison, Harry Moore, Yousaf Bin Naeem

Leicestershire

Louis Kimber’s dynamic energy fuels LEI’s charge, blending raw talent with fierce determination in every play Though relatively new as captain, Kimber has shown leadership potential in rallying the side.

Leicestershire’s batting depends heavily on Ajinkya Rahane and Paul Stirling to set solid foundations. Rishi Patel and Lewis Hill offer middle-order options, but the lineup has lacked consistency. The lower middle order needs to step up for Leicestershire to post competitive totals.

The bowling attack features experienced all-rounder Jimmy Neesham and Chris Wright, offering a mix of pace and skill. Young talents like Rehan Ahmed and Sam Wood bring pace and wicket-taking ability. However, the bowling unit must tighten its lines to prevent opposition run flows.

LEI faced a heavy defeat against Yorkshire at Leeds, managing just 107 chasing 214. Yorkshire’s impressive 213/7 proved decisive, handing Leicestershire a 106-run loss. The batting collapsed early, and the bowlers struggled to contain the opposition’s big hitters.

Leicestershire Squad

Leicestershire Squad

Ajinkya Rahane, Paul Stirling, Wiaan Mulder, Jimmy Neesham, Peter Handscomb, Ben Cox (WK), Chris Wright, Lewis Hill, Sam Wood, Matt Salisbury, Louis Kimber (C), Harry Swindells, Ian Holland, Liam Trevaskis, Sam Evans, Tom Scriven, Roman Walker, Ben Mike, Rishi Patel, Soloman Budinger, Scott Currie, Rehan Ahmed, Josh Hull, Alex Green

DER vs LEI Outfield Report

Edgbaston, Birmingham

The Birmingham pitch is known to be a balanced surface that offers something for both batsmen and bowlers. The pitch offers a reliable bounce, allowing the ball to come onto the bat cleanly for the batsmen. Spinners might get some assistance during the middle overs, but pace bowlers will find early movement crucial.

The weather forecast for match day predicts a mild and partly cloudy day with temperatures hovering around 22°C. Light winds will prevail, ensuring minimal interference with play, making it ideal for both batting and bowling strategies.

Historically, teams batting first at Birmingham have managed to post totals around 160-180, while chasing teams have successfully pulled off chases in the 140-170 range. The pitch generally rewards teams that set or chase competitive scores in this bracket.

Derbyshire vs Leicestershire Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

The last five encounters between Derbyshire and Leicestershire in the Vitality Blast have been closely contested, with Derbyshire winning three matches and Leicestershire taking two. The teams are evenly matched, making this upcoming game a compelling contest.

DER vs LEI Prediction

According to cricket analysts Leicestershire have a 58% chance of Winning.