Previews: Blast Off Action takes centre stage again as Thursday night lights returns!

Thursday night cricket returns with just three fixtures in the T20 Blast before the real return takes place tomorrow with a bumper set of fixtures. 

Just one game in the North Group takes place which sees the Steelbacks look to go top of the pile with victory over Lancashire who will be looking to bounce back from yesterday's humiliation against arch-rivals Yorkshire.

In the South Group, Sussex will look to topple Middlesex at the home of cricket to overtake Glamorgan and go top of the table, whilst Essex will look to bring an end to Gloucestershire's unbeaten away run in the Blast this term with success at the Essex County Ground in front of the live sky cameras.

As always as View From the Outfield we have provided you with a thorough preview ahead of the clashes below. 
 
North Group:
 
Lancashire v Northamptonshire:
Where? Old Trafford. Manchester
When? 18.30
Form?
Lancs: P5, W2, L3 (7th)
Northants: P4, W3, L1 (2nd)
Last time out:
Lancs: Won by nine-wickets v Leicestershire (D/L)
Northants: Lost by three-wickets v Worcestershire
Last meeting: T20 Blast final 2015, Lancashire won by 13-runs
Who?
Lancs: Smith, Proctor, Brown, Buck, Petersen, Buttler (w/k), Parry, Mahmood, Livingstone, Clark, Lilley, Croft (c), Edwards, Jarvis, Wagner and Guptill
Northants: Cobb, Rossington (w/k), Duckett, Wakely (c), Keogh, Crook, White, Gleeson, Azharullah, Sanderson, Ashraf and Zaib
Danger men:
Lancs: Karl Brown
Northants:  Josh Cobb
Weather: Cloudy with highs of 18c
Match Odds:
Lancs: 8/11
Northants: 13/10
VFTO Predicts: Home Win
 
South Group:
 
Middlesex v Sussex:
Where? Lord’s, London
When? 18.15
Form:
Mid: P3, W2, L1 (5th)
Sus: P4, W3, L1 (2nd)
Last time out:
Mid: Won by 17-runs v Essex
Sus: Won by four-wickets v Kent
Last meeting: Sussex won by seven-wickets at Lord’s, 2015
Who?
Mid: Malan ©, Finn, Franklin, Fuller, Gubbins, Higgins, McClenaghan, McCullum, Morgan, Rayner, Roland-Jones, Simpson (w/k) and Sowter
Sus: Beer, Briggs, Brown (w/k), Cachopa, Finch, Garton, Jordan, Machan, Mills, Nash, Salt, Shahzad, Taylor, Wiese and Wright ©
Danger men:
Mid: Eoin Morgan
Sus: Ross Taylor
Weather: Cloudy with highs of 17c
Match Odds:
Mid: 11/10
Sus: 11/12
VFTO Predicts: Away win
 
Essex v Gloucestershire:
Where? County Ground, Chelmsford
When? 19.00, Live on Sky
Form:
Ess: P4, W1, L3 (8th)
Glo: P4, W2, L2 (7th)
Last time out:
Ess: Lost by 17-runs v Middlesex
Glo: Lost by six-wickets v Glamorgan
Last meeting: Essex won by 18-runs at Chelmsford, 2015
Who?
Ess (probable): Bopara ©, Foster (w/k), Masters, Napier, Westley, ten Doeschate, Lawrence, Mickleburgh, Porter, Riaz, Taylor, Ryder, Quinn, Velani and Zaidi
Glo: Klinger ©, Marshall, Cockbain, Dent, Howell, Taylor, Roderick (w/k), Smith, Noema-Barnett, Van Buuren, Norwell, Taylor, Miles and Tye
Danger men:
Ess: Matt Quinn
Glo: Michael Klinger
Weather: Cloudy with highs of 17c
Match Odds:
Ess: 8/11
Glo: 13/10
VFTO Predicts: Home win
 
Odds provided by oddschecker.com, please gamble responsibly. 

Previews by David Bowden (@Bowdenwhu)