Durham vs Derbyshire – T20 Blast Match Preview (11 June 2025)

Tournament: Vitality T20 Blast 2025
Match: Durham vs Derbyshire
Date & Time: Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 6:30 PM GMT (11:00 PM IST)
Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
Series: North Group
Match Number: 37
Live Streaming: Star Sports Network, SonyLiv, Fancode, County team YouTube channels

📊 Match Context & Head-to-Head

The clash between Durham and Derbyshire at the Riverside Ground is a key fixture in the Vitality T20 Blast 2025. The two sides have a rich history in limited-overs cricket, with 29 matches played between them since 2003. Durham holds the upper hand in the head-to-head, having won 13 matches, while Derbyshire has secured 9 victories, with 7 games ending in no-result.

The most recent meeting was on 19 July 2024, where Durham triumphed by 8 wickets with 7 balls to spare, a result that underlines their potential to dominate at home. However, Derbyshire also put up a strong performance in their last encounter on 14 August 2024, winning by 4 wickets with 7 balls remaining.

🏟️ Venue & Pitch Conditions

Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street is a well-balanced venue, historically favoring the team batting second. With a cold evening expected (around 17-19°C), and partly cloudy skies, the pitch is likely to assist new-ball bowlers due to the dew and movement. The surface is slightly grassy, offering some assistance to seamers, with spinners also expected to find grip as the game progresses.

Average first-innings score: ~138
Ideal target: 165+
Boundaries: ~61m (square), ~65m (straight)

🏏 Team Form & Key Players

Durham (Home Advantage)

Durham are coming into this match on the back of a mixed run in their last six games, with 2 wins and 4 losses. Their home record at the Riverside is strong, and they will be looking to capitalize on that. Key performers include:

• Alex Lees (C) – Tactically astute and capable of anchoring the innings.
• Graham Clark – Reliable opening partner.
• Ben Raine (5 wickets in last match) – Star bowler with consistent economy.
• Zak Foulkes – Effective seamer with sharp lines and lengths.
• James Neesham – All-rounder with big-hitting and match-winning ability.

Durham’s bowling attack remains their biggest strength, with Raine, Foulkes, and Callum Parkinson forming a lethal trio. The batting has been inconsistent, but with Oliver Robinson as the wicketkeeper and middle-order anchor, they have the potential to post competitive totals.

Derbyshire (Chasing the Win)

Derbyshire, on the other hand, are in a tough position, having lost all four of their opening matches in the tournament. Their batting line-up has struggled for consistency, and they are yet to find a solid top-order combination. However, they do have a few key players who can change the game:

• Wayne Madsen (C) – Experienced campaigner and the team’s only consistent performer at the top.
• Ross Whiteley – Finishing ability and match-winning potential in the death overs.
• Pat Brown – Medium-pace bowler with good control and ability to pick wickets.
• Fynn Hudson-Prentice – All-rounder with a decent strike rate and useful with the ball.

Derbyshire’s top three (Caleb Jewell, Aneurin Donald, and David Lloyd) have the firepower but have not clicked as a unit yet. Their middle order lacks depth, which could be a concern against a strong Durham attack.

🧠 Toss Prediction & Strategy

Given the weather conditions and the pitch's behavior, it is likely that the winning captain will choose to bowl first. The cold evening and cloud cover will assist seamers, and chasing a total of 160-170 might be more feasible than defending it.

• Toss Prediction: Bowl first
• Win Prediction: Durham to win
• Match Prediction (Score): Durham 246 vs Derbyshire 218 (Predicted Total: 464 runs)

💡 Dream11 Grand League Tips

Given the balanced nature of the match and the need for all-rounders, here's a suggested Dream11 team:

• Wicket Keeper: Oliver Robinson
• Batsmen: Graham Clark, Wayne Madsen (C), Ross Whiteley, Colin Ackermann
• All Rounders: Ben Raine (VC), James Neesham, Fynn Hudson-Prentice
• Bowlers: Zak Foulkes, Pat Brown, Callum Parkinson

High-Risk Strategy: Include Will Rhodes for explosive hitting and Nathan Sowter if he bowls tight lines.

📽️ Broadcast & Streaming

You can catch the Durham vs Derbyshire T20 Blast clash on:

• Television: Star Sports Network
• Online: SonyLiv, Fancode, and County team YouTube channels

🏆 Final Verdict

While Derbyshire have the firepower to pull off an upset, Durham's home advantage, strong bowling attack, and better form make them the slightly stronger side. A tight contest is expected, with Durham likely to edge it if the toss goes in their favor.

Prediction: Durham to win by 4-6 wickets

Toss Decision: Bowl first
Target: 240-250

Stay tuned for the live updates and post-match analysis right here! 🏏