Cricket Prediction | DER vs WAR | Vitality Blast Men 2025 | North Group | July 18 – Who’s in Better Form Coming Into This Match?

DER vs WAR Match Analysis

Derbyshire will host the Birmingham Bears in an exciting North Group clash of the Vitality Blast Men on July 18, 2025, at the County Ground, Derby. The match promises competitive cricket under the summer skies, with both teams eager to climb the points table. 

Derbyshire has shown resilience and consistency in this season’s Vitality Blast, leveraging a balanced squad with a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talent. The team is known for aggressive batting in the middle order and disciplined bowling in the death overs. 

Birmingham Bears possess a squad rich in all-rounders and versatile players, making them a tough side in the Vitality Blast. Led by Alex Davies, their batting lineup has depth, with Moeen Ali providing both firepower and control. 

Derbyshire vs Birmingham Bears  Team Preview & Squads

Derbyshire

In the Derbyshire dugout, Samit’s calm is contagious, his strategies sharper than a late-swinging yorker. As an experienced all-rounder, he anchors both batting and bowling strategies efficiently. 

Derbyshire’s batting lineup is packed with versatile players like Luis Reece and Ross Whiteley, capable of accelerating the innings when required. With gloves that whisper class and a bat that speaks fluent aggression, Aneurin Donald is the glue and the spark up top.

The bowling attack is varied, with a healthy mix of pace and spin. Suranga Lakmal and Daryn Dupavillon offer pace and bounce, while Mark Watt brings craft with left-arm spin. The team relies on bowlers like Blair Tickner and Zak Chappell to deliver tight spells in the middle overs.

Yorkshire were comprehensively defeated by DER at Leeds on July 13, 2025. Yorkshire posted a modest total of 151/9, which Derbyshire chased down comfortably at 157/2 in just 16.4 overs. The win by 8 wickets with 20 balls remaining showcased their dominance with both bat and ball.

Derbyshire Squad

Derbyshire

Suranga Lakmal, Aneurin Donald (wk), Mark Watt, David Lloyd, Samit Patel (C), Ross Whiteley, Blair Tickner, Daryn Dupavillon, Luis Reece, Brooke Guest, 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

Birmingham Bears

The WAR are guided by Alex Davies’s blend of leadership and wicketkeeping prowess. His leadership aims to harness the team’s all-around strengths and bring consistency to the side. Davies’ experience in domestic T20 leagues adds valuable perspective in pressure situations.

WAR feature an explosive top order, including Moeen Ali, who brings international experience and can change the game in a few overs. Tom Latham provides a solid foundation, while Sam Hain offers stability and strokeplay in the middle overs. 

Birmingham Bears’ bowling attack is spearheaded by Chris Woakes and George Garton, both capable of delivering breakthroughs with the new ball and at the death. Hasan Ali’s pace and Richard Gleeson’s yorkers complement the variety. The spin options, including Danny Briggs, provide control in the middle overs.

Birmingham Bears suffered a heavy defeat against Northamptonshire on July 13, 2025, at home. Northamptonshire threw a knockout punch with 240, and the Bears barely made it back to their corner. The 64-run loss highlighted struggles in both batting consistency and bowling penetration.

Birmingham Bears Squad

Birmingham Bears

Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, George Garton, Hasan Ali, Tom Latham, Alex Davies (C) (wk), Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Sam Hain, Ed Barnard, Chris Rushworth, Danny Briggs, Craig Miles, Richard Gleeson, Beau Webster, Zen Malik, Ethan Bamber, Kai Smith, Robert Yates, Dan Mousley, Jake Lintott, Jacob Bethell, Che Simmons, Hamza Shaikh, Tazeem Ali, Adam Sylvester

DER vs WAR Outfield Report

County Ground, Derby

The County Ground in Derby generally offers a balanced pitch that assists both batsmen and bowlers. The surface tends to provide good bounce and carry, favoring pace bowlers early on, while spinners can be effective as the game progresses. Batsmen with good footwork should find scoring opportunities, but disciplined bowling will be key.

The weather forecast for Derby on July 18, 2025, suggests partly cloudy skies with mild temperatures around 22°C (72°F). Light winds are expected, creating ideal conditions for a full 20-over match. A full, uninterrupted game is expected as rain interruptions seem unlikely.

Historically, the highest T20 score recorded at Derby is close to 220, showcasing the pitch’s capability for high-scoring games. Conversely, teams batting second have been bowled out for as low as 110, indicating that pressure and bowling strategies can significantly affect the outcome. Chasing sides often need to maintain momentum from the start to avoid collapses.

Derbyshire vs Birmingham Bears Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

In the last five encounters between Derbyshire and Birmingham Bears, the sides have shared wins evenly, making their head-to-head record highly competitive. 

DER vs WAR Prediction

According to cricket analysts Birmingham Bears have a 52% chance of Winning.

Disclaimer: This cricket prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.