T20 captain Clint McKay says Leicestershire will approach this evening's match against Worcestershire Rapids with the same confidence that saw them beat Lancashire in their opening fixture last Sunday.
Colin Ackermann's last ball six saw the Foxes complete a three wicket victory over the Lightning at Liverpool, despite the game starting less than 24 hours after the end of the championship match against Sussex at Arundel, around 270 miles to the south.
It was McKay's first taste of captaincy in T20, and the Australian, who picked up 3-29 from his four overs, said it had been an exciting but nerve-wracking experience.
He said: “There's the obvious things like making sure you've got the right sort of match-up of bowlers to batsmen – for example getting [left-arm spinner] Callum Parkinson bowling to Jos Buttler – and that the fielding positions are right, but also making sure whoever is bowling is comfortable in their decision over which type of delivery they're going to send down.
“Lancashire's batsmen got off to a decent start, but we kept chipping away, taking regular wickets, and we were very happy with the target they set us, knowing it was a very good wicket and fast outfield.
“Obviously the four day cricket hasn't gone to plan so far, but we know we're a very strong T20 side, and we're out there to win the competition. To come off a disappointing result at Arundel, make the trip up to Liverpool and put in a great performance showed a lot of character.
“Batting-wise we have power up front in Luke Ronchi and Cameron Delport, classy players like Colin Ackermann and Mark Cosgrove in the middle order, and power at the end, and the bowling looks nicely balanced, with good pace up front, medium-pacers with plenty of tricks, and very good spin options. If we play our best cricket I've no doubt we can win the competition.”
Worcestershire were beaten by West Midlands rivals Birmingham Bears in their opening fixture, but the Rapids have reached the quarter-finals in three of the last five years and with their first four fixtures all at home, will be doubly determined to get their campaign up and running.
“They have some very dangerous batsmen and some very good bowlers, including [Australian fast bowler] John Hastings, a good friend of mine,” said McKay.
“For us it's a case of making sure we control what we can, and if we do that, I'm sure we can make it two wins out of two.”
Leicestershire have confirmed big-hitting South African batsman Delport has agreed an extension to his current white-ball contract, tying him to the Foxes until the end of 2019.
