When Leicestershire played Yorkshire at Grace Road just 10 days ago, they were bowled out for 126 and lost by 30 runs.

Two wins from their last three T20 games and victory in their most recent Championship match against Gloucestershire should have given them a confidence boost, though.

You would think they are going to need a lot more than 126 this evening - but who knows, last week Birmingham Bears only managed 137 all out and still managed to defend that against Northants.

Nick Welch and Harry Swindells are the Foxes openers.

Mitch Santner competes his set. Four overs for 34.

Kent opener Daniel Bell-Drummond cuts loose in the third over with a six and a four off Blake Cullen.

It is perhaps a brave move by Somerset to ask a team to bat first that hit 258-6 from their 20 overs a week ago.

Still, if any team has reason for confidence, it surely is the Cider Boys, who have won seven out of eight so far.

A show of respect before the start for Barnaby Webber from Taunton, one of the two University of Nottingham students murdered earlier in the week, with both teams joining in the crowd in a minute's applause.

Better over for the Bears. 11 off it. Chris Benjamin on 30, Dan Mousley on 20

Tidy first over from Josh de Caires, Mike Atherton's son, at Lord's.

It goes for only two runs.

Only six runs come off over No 13 from Mitch Santner.

Very tidy at this stage of proceeedings from the New Zealand spinner - twice a beaten World Cup finalist.

Nine off the first over at Lord's for Kent openers Tawanda Muyeye and Daniel Bell-Drummond.

Hundred up for the Bearspublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 16 June 2023

18:19 BST 16 June 2023

Birmingham Bears 103-3 (12 overs) v Worcestershire

Chris Benjamin blasts a straight four - his fourth boundary - to take the Bears past 100 at the end of the 12th over.

Image source, Rex Features

Kent have won the toss at Lord's and have opted to bat..

Middlesex have John Simpson in for Pieter Malan.

Kent have Joe Denly up against his old club.

Halfway mark at New Road - and it's even steven really!

Derbyshire captain Leus du Plooy calls correctly and his team is going to bowl first at Chester-le-Street.

Durham are giving a rest to Ben Raine while Graham Clark is iil, but Brydon Carse returns.

For the Falcons, Harry Came is into the team at the expense of Tom Wood in their only change.

The hosts have won the toss and have asked Lancashire to bat first at Wantage Road.

Northants have three alterations to their side with a debut for 22-year-old South Africa-born batter Justin Broad and returns for Ricardo Vasconcelos and Ben Sanderson.

The visitors have made one change to their team with Dane Vilas in for New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme.

It's a similar story at Headingley where Yorkshire skipper Shan Masood has chosen to bowl after winning the toss.

The Vikings are unchanged as they look for a sixth successive Blast victory, with Dawid Malan in the side despite a niggle during their Championship win over Derbyshire.

Leicestershire bring in Naveen-ul-Haq, Michael Finan and Harry Swindells.

South Group leaders Somerset have won the toss and chosen to bowl first at Taunton.

They have experienced New Zealand paceman Matt Henry back in their side, replacing Shoaib Bashir.

One change also for Surrey with Gus Atkinson in for Cam Steel.

Clearly neither side expecting much help for the spinners.

Eight off the first D'Oliveira over - six of them from a glorious reverse sweep for six by Glenn Maxwell.

#Outrageous

Worcestershire starting to reel this one back in as home skipper Brett D'Oliveira puts himself on to bowl.

Powerplay over. Good start by the Bears but it could have been worse for Worcestershire.

Usama Mir comes on. He so far has a record of 'played three, won three' in T20 for the men in black.