A dead rubber to finish for the defending champions

Thirteen down and one to go.
Maurice Chambers could make his first appearance in coloured clothes for the Steelbacks at DurhamMaurice Chambers could make his first appearance in coloured clothes for the Steelbacks at Durham
Maurice Chambers could make his first appearance in coloured clothes for the Steelbacks at Durham

The Northamptonshire Steelbacks conclude their Natwest t20 Blast campaign this evening in the north east as they face the Durham Jets in Chester-le-Street (5.30pm).

It has been a disappointing season in the shortest format for this evening’s protagonists with both missing out on the quarter-finals and, as such, there is nothing riding on this evening’s encounter apart from professional pride.

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Wednesday evening’s defeat to the Nottinghamshire Outlaws extinguished what slim hopes remained of the defending champions making the knockout stage and attention will shortly turn to the Royal London Cup which begins this weekend.

With that in mind, Maurice Chambers, who is yet to feature in limited overs cricket for the Steelbacks, will make his debut and batsman Rob Newton will also return to the starting line-up.

They will replace the duo of James Middlebrook and Muhammad Azharullah who have been given the night off..

From the North Group, both the Outlaws and Lancashire Lightning have already qualified for the last eight and they will be joined by two of the Worcestershire Rapids, Yorkshire Vikings and Birmingham Bears depending on this evening’s results.

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Steelbacks (from): Coetzer, Willey, Levi, Rossington, Crook, Duckett, Spriegel, Middlebrook, White, Azharullah, Chambers, Newton.

Durham (from): Stoneman, Mustard, Borthwick, MacLeod, Collingwood, Richardson, Muchall, Breese, Hastings, Pringle, Coughlin, Rushworth, Onions, Jennings