Derbyshire vs Nottinghamshire predictions: Outlaws should make fast start
- Nottinghamshire went top of the North Group with victory over Durham last time out
- Colin Munro has scored 294 runs in this year's T20 Blast
- Recommended bet: Nottinghamshire highest score after first six overs
Nottinghamshire have taken the initiative at the top of the North Group in this year's Twenty20 Blast but they will be put to the test on Friday when they take on rivals Derbyshire in front of the TV cameras.
The East Midlands Derby pits two teams at opposite ends of the standings against one another but should not disappoint at the County Ground.
Team news
After winning each of their last three matches, Nottinghamshire are likely to stick with the same starting 11 that beat Durham.
The visitors are also expected to remain unchanged, with captain Leus du Plooy looking to build on his unbeaten knock of 66 last time out.
The stats
Derbyshire have found some form in this year's T20 Blast, winning three of their last four matches.
However, Nottinghamshire have won each of their last three contests, with their 26-run win over Durham last time out, putting them top of the North Group table.
Nottinghamshire's top three batsmen Colin Munro (294), Alex Hales (258) and Joe Clarke (254) have scored a combined 806 runs in this season's T20 Blast.
Derbyshire lost the reverse fixture with Nottinghamshire by four wickets last month.
Prediction
Notts Outlaws won their opening match of this year's T20 Blast against Derbyshire Falcons by four wickets at Trent Bridge in May and since then, the teams have gone in opposite directions.
Derbyshire began the campaign with three successive defeats, having lost to Lancashire and Northamptonshire either side of that early loss to the Outlaws, and they have since been playing catch-up.
As for Nottinghamshire, they have won five of their first eight games in this season's T20 Blast, going top of the North Group.
They come into this match in fine form having beaten Warwickshire by 11 runs, Lancashire by five wickets and Durham by 26 runs in their last three contests and they are 2/5 with LiveScore Bet to win the match.
That looks about right even though Derbyshire have started to put together some wins themselves but the better bet could be Nottinghamshire to have the highest score after six overs.
The Outlaws have racked up some decent scores this season, having surpassed the 180-run mark four times in the competition in 2023, and their top three have played a key role in that.
Openers Hales and Clarke have scored 512 runs between them in the competition and should get their side off to a strong start against Derbyshire, but even if an early wicket falls, number three batsman Munro has also been in fine form with 294 runs of his own.
