LANCASHIRE has confirmed the Red Rose’s white-ball fixtures for the 2021 Vitality Blast and Royal London Cup.

Lancashire Lightning will kick off their Blast campaign with back-to-back matches at Emirates Old Trafford against Derbyshire Falcons and Leicestershire Foxes on Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 10.

The Roses fixtures with Yorkshire Vikings, a highlight of the schedule, will take place at Emerald Headingley on Friday, July 2 and at Emirates Old Trafford, to conclude the group stage, on Saturday, July 17. Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket.

Lancashire will play a National Counties friendly fixture against Cumberland on Friday, July 22 as a warm-up to the Club’s Royal London Cup campaign, which will then begin the following day against Sussex, at a venue to be confirmed.

Lancashire have been drawn in a non-regionalised group alongside Sussex, Gloucestershire, Kent, Hampshire, Middlesex, Durham, Worcestershire and Essex. They will play each side once with four fixtures at home and four away.

In addition to Sussex, Lancashire will host Middlesex, Worcestershire and Essex while there will also be trips to the Bristol County Ground, Canterbury, the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Riverside.

Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Paul Allott, said: “We’re pleased to have some certainty with our limited overs schedule for the summer and look forward to contesting all of our home Vitality Blast fixtures at Emirates Old Trafford.

“Following the difficult, but necessary decision to play so much of our home cricket at outgrounds last summer, it will be a bonus for the side to return to Emirates Old Trafford, hopefully with the backing of crowds as soon as possible.”

Lancashire captain, Dane Vilas, added: “It’s always an exciting time for the players when the fixtures are announced and there will definitely be an added edge from the lads in training now.

“The Vitality Blast is a competition that we thrive in as a side, especially at Emirates Old Trafford, and it would be fantastic if we could go one better than last year and lift the trophy.

“Playing behind-closed-doors last season was a strange experience and all of the lads are looking forward to welcoming the Lancashire Cricket Members and supporters back into Emirates Old Trafford when it is safe to do so.”

Vitality Blast fixtures

Wed 9 June – Lancashire Lightning vs Derbyshire Falcons – Emirates Old Trafford

Thurs 10 June – Lancashire Lightning vs Leicestershire Foxes – Emirates Old Trafford

Sun 13 June – Worcestershire Rapids vs Lancashire Lightning – New Road

Tues 15 June – Derbyshire Falcons vs Lancashire Lightning – The Incora County Ground

Thurs 17 June – Durham vs Lancashire Lightning – Emirates Riverside

Fri 18 June – Birmingham Bears vs Lancashire Lightning – Edgbaston

Sun 20 June – Lancashire Lightning vs Nottinghamshire Outlaws – Emirates Old Trafford

Fri 25 June – Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Lancashire Lightning – The County Ground

Sat 26 June – Nottinghamshire Outlaws vs Lancashire Lightning – Trent Bridge

Thurs 1 July – Lancashire Lightning vs Worcestershire Rapids – Emirates Old Trafford

Fri 2 July – Yorkshire Vikings vs Lancashire Lightning – Emerald Headingly

Fri 9 July – Lancashire Lightning vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks – Emirates Old Trafford

Fri 16 July – Lancashire Lightning vs Durham – Emirates Old Trafford

Sat 17 July – Lancashire Lightning vs Yorkshire Vikings – Emirates Old Trafford

Royal London Cup fixtures

Fri 23 July – Lancashire vs Sussex – TBC

Sun 25 July – Gloucestershire vs Lancashire – Bristol County Ground

Wed 28 July – Kent vs Lancashire – Canterbury

Sun 1 August – Hampshire vs Lancashire – Ageas Bowl

Tues 3 August – Lancashire vs Middlesex – Emirates Old Trafford

Thurs 5 August – Durham vs Lancashire – Emirates Riverside

Sun 8 August – Lancashire vs Worcestershire – Blackpool CC

Thurs 12 August – Lancashire vs Essex – Emirates Old Trafford