Derbyshire vs Lancashire Preview – T20 Blast 2026 | Statz
30th June 2026
Derbyshire host Lancashire at County Ground, Derby in the T20 Blast 2026 on Wednesday 1 July, with first ball at 23:00 IST (18:30 BST). Both sides are in the bottom half of the 18-team table – Derbyshire sit 15th on 10 points from seven matches, while Lancashire are 13th with 12 points from seven. Qualification is still mathematically possible for both, but defeats here would leave either side with serious ground to make up.
The Venue
County Ground in Derby is tagged as a batting paradise by the Statz venue model. Across 22 T20s here since 2022, the average first innings score is 189.5 and the bat-first win rate sits at 55%. The average match total is 353 runs, with 14.1 sixes and 29.8 fours per game. Pace bowlers have taken 66.7% of wickets at an economy of 9.49, while spin goes at 8.58. The most recent completed match at the ground saw Derbyshire hammer 234/4 against Nottinghamshire on 29 May before defending it comfortably by 23 runs. Expect runs – and plenty of them.
Form and Table
Derbyshire (15th – P7, W2, L4, T1 – 10pts) have endured a bumpy campaign. Their last five results read T, L, L, W, W:
- 28 Jun vs Yorkshire (H) – Tied – DER 215/9 vs YOR 215/8
- 07 Jun vs Nottinghamshire (A) – Lost by 10 runs – DER 173/9 vs NOT 183/6
- 31 May vs Essex (A) – Lost by 5 wkts – DER 173/10 vs ESS 179/5
- 29 May vs Nottinghamshire (H) – Won by 23 runs – DER 234/4 vs NOT 211/6
- 27 May vs Leicestershire (A) – Won by 85 runs – DER 230/5 vs LEI 145/10
The two wins were massive, with totals of 234 and 230 showing what this batting line-up can do when it fires. But Derbyshire have struggled away from home and the tied game against Yorkshire underlined their inconsistency.
Lancashire (13th – P7, W3, L4 – 12pts) have been equally unpredictable. Their last five read W, W, L, L, L:
- 26 Jun vs Leicestershire (A) – Won by 5 wkts – LAN 160/5 vs LEI 156/7
- 09 Jun vs Durham (A) – Won (rain-affected) – LAN 130/3 vs DUR 128/2
- 07 Jun vs Glamorgan (H) – Lost by 2 wkts – LAN 201/8 vs GLA 202/8
- 05 Jun vs Yorkshire (A) – Lost by 106 runs – LAN 107/10 vs YOR 213/7
- 29 May vs Leicestershire (A) – Lost by 2 wkts – LAN 145/9 vs LEI 146/8
Lancashire’s form is heading in the right direction after consecutive wins over Leicestershire and Durham. That said, being bowled out for 107 against Yorkshire shows the lows this side can hit.
Standings – Top 4:
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northamptonshire | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| 2 | Hampshire | 8 | 6 | 2 | 24 |
| 3 | Surrey | 7 | 5 | 2 | 20 |
| 4 | Nottinghamshire | 8 | 5 | 3 | 20 |
Both sides have seven matches remaining. Northamptonshire’s perfect seven-from-seven record sets the pace, and this fixture is a must-win for both Derbyshire and Lancashire if they harbour any hopes of climbing into contention.
Head-to-Head
These two have met 8 times since 2022 (Statz data), and it has been overwhelmingly one-sided. Lancashire lead 6-1 with one no result, and have won the last four completed meetings. Derbyshire’s sole victory came at County Ground in June 2022 when they defended 188/8 by 5 runs.
The most recent meeting was on 5 July 2025 at Old Trafford, where Lancashire posted 178/6 and bowled Derbyshire out for 136/6 to win by 42 runs. In the reverse fixture at this venue last season (20 Jun 2025), Lancashire racked up a huge 243/7 and won by 80 runs.
At County Ground specifically, Lancashire have played three times – winning once, losing once, with one abandonment. Their one win here produced 243 runs in the first innings, the highest total ever recorded at this ground in the Statz dataset.
Statz Projections
The Statz projections favour Lancashire regardless of the batting order:
- Derbyshire bat first: DER 47% – LAN 51% | Projected 1st innings: 214 | Match total: 416
- Lancashire bat first: DER 44% – LAN 54% | Projected 1st innings: 215 | Match total: 416
The projected first innings range spans from 184 (P10) to 246 (P90), while the match total range sits between 365 (P10) and 467 (P90). At a projected match total of 416, Statz expects this to play well above the venue average of 353 – driven by the firepower on both sides and the flat batting surface at County Ground.
Competition Season Leaders
Orange Cap – Top Run Scorers:
- George Munsey (Nottinghamshire) – 408 runs (8 inns)
- Beau Webster (Warwickshire) – 367 runs (7 inns)
- James Rew (Somerset) – 342 runs (6 inns)
- Sam Billings (Kent) – 338 runs (8 inns)
- Chris Lynn (Northamptonshire) – 320 runs (7 inns)
Purple Cap – Top Wicket Takers:
- James Sales (Northamptonshire) – 17 wkts (7 inns)
- Mohammad Ali (Nottinghamshire) – 17 wkts (8 inns)
- Duan Jansen (Surrey) – 16 wkts (6 inns)
- Hasan Ali (Yorkshire) – 15 wkts (7 inns)
- Chris Wood (Hampshire) – 15 wkts (8 inns)
Derbyshire Season Leaders:
- Runs: Martin Andersson – 288 runs (avg 41.14, HS 81)
- Wickets: Ben Aitchison – 11 wkts (7 inns, best 3)
Lancashire Season Leaders:
- Runs: Liam Livingstone – 299 runs (avg 59.80, HS 85)
- Wickets: Tom Hartley – 9 wkts (7 inns, best 4)
Predicted XIs
Derbyshire (based on XI vs Yorkshire, 28 Jun 2026):
Aneurin Donald (c/wk), Martin Andersson, Wayne Madsen, Matthew Montgomery, Muhammed Yusaf Bin Naeem, Ross Whiteley, Amrit Basra, Nick Potts, Ben Aitchison, Akif Javed, Sufiyan Muqeem
Lancashire (based on XI vs Leicestershire, 26 Jun 2026):
Jos Buttler, Philip Salt, Liam Livingstone, Ben McDermott, Keaton Jennings (c), Joseph Moores (wk), Tom Hartley, Jack Blatherwick, Saqib Mahmood, Luke Wood, Shadab Khan
Always check the Statz fixture page after the toss for confirmed line-ups.
Dream11 Tips – Captain and Vice Captain
Captain: Liam Livingstone (87.0 avg projected D11 pts) – The obvious pick. Livingstone contributes with both bat and ball and tops the projected Dream11 points by a clear margin. Three consecutive scores of 74, 85 and 81 make him the standout premium option.
Vice Captain: Nick Potts (81.3 avg projected D11 pts) – Potts has been quietly effective with the ball, taking 9 wickets in 7 innings at an 85.7% hit rate for 1+ wicket. A strong differential pick.
Other picks to consider:
- Martin Andersson – 79.4 avg projected D11 pts
- Ben Aitchison – 79.4 avg projected D11 pts
- Saqib Mahmood – 76.5 avg projected D11 pts
Key Players
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire) – The tournament’s form player with 299 runs at an average of 59.80 and a highest score of 85, plus 8 wickets in just 5 innings. His 20+ runs hit rate sits at a remarkable 80% this season, and he has taken 1+ wicket in 100% of his appearances (5 from 5). On a batting paradise, Livingstone is the player most likely to dominate this game with bat and ball.
Ben Aitchison (Derbyshire) – Derbyshire’s leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets in 7 innings. His 1+ wicket hit rate of 85.7% and 2+ wickets hit rate of 57.1% make him a reliable bet builder option. He has taken at least one wicket in each of his last five matches.
Martin Andersson (Derbyshire) – Derbyshire’s top run scorer with 288 runs at an average of 41.14, including a highest score of 81. His 20+ runs hit rate is 57.1% for the season (60% in his last 5), and he chips in with wickets at a 42.9% hit rate for 1+ wicket. The key all-round threat for the hosts.
Nick Potts (Derbyshire) – Another reliable wicket-taker with 9 scalps in 7 innings. His 1+ wicket hit rate of 85.7% matches Aitchison, making Derbyshire’s seam pair a genuine danger even on a flat deck.
Conditions
Partly cloudy at the start with a temperature of 23°C, low humidity (41%) and minimal wind. No rain expected – a full 40 overs should be played without interruption.
Verdict and Betting Angles
Lancashire have the stronger squad by a distance. Buttler, Salt and Livingstone form one of the most explosive top threes in domestic T20 cricket, and the bowling attack of Mahmood, Wood, Hartley and Shadab Khan covers all bases. The head-to-head record of 6-1 in Lancashire’s favour tells its own story, and even on a flat County Ground surface, the visitors should have too much class.
Live bet365 odds have Derbyshire at 2.10 and Lancashire at 1.68. The Statz model gives Lancashire a 52% win probability across both batting scenarios, suggesting the odds are about right. Lancashire look the value side.
Bet Builder Angles (build yours on Statz Bet Builder):
- Liam Livingstone 20+ runs – 80% season hit rate. Three consecutive 70+ scores. The man is in sensational touch.
- Ben Aitchison 1+ wicket – 85.7% hit rate this season. Derbyshire’s most consistent wicket-taker.
- Nick Potts 1+ wicket – 85.7% hit rate. Consistent seam partner to Aitchison.
- Liam Livingstone 1+ wicket – 100% hit rate (5 from 5 this season). His leg-spin is consistently picking up scalps.