Grace Road — T20 Blast Pitch Report
Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester · Home of Leicestershire
Last updated: 2026-05-27 · By CricketPrediction.com
60% Blast chase-win rate at Grace Road (24 of 40 matches) — Leicester is one of the more chase-friendly English county grounds in domestic T20.
Pitch Character
Balanced surface with even bounce and good carry — traditionally flat and very good for batting. Shorter straight boundaries help hitters target the shorter straight regions. Pace-on and strong stroke-play tend to be rewarded; bowlers rely on change-ups and hard lengths at the death.
Batting
Slightly batting-friendly. Par 165, competitive 175+, strong 185+. Big-hitting through the line works on the flat deck; lofted straight-region shots scored quickly thanks to shorter straight boundaries.
Bowling
New ball offers movement when there is cloud cover or grass on the surface; otherwise pace-on is punished. Spinners earn their pay in the middle overs as the surface starts to grip slightly. Change-ups and hard lengths matter most at the death.
Toss Strategy
Marginal chase advantage in Blast. Captains who win the toss often choose to bowl first, expecting conditions to stay good and totals to be chaseable. Stable enough that team strength can drive the call rather than toss strategy.
Dew
Light dew typical for English Midlands evenings — much lower impact than subcontinental venues. No strong tactical compulsion to chase purely for dew.
Betting Insight
Backing the chasing side at Grace Road has held value in the Blast era. The broader all-T20 sample suggests the chase edge is real but moderate; do not bet against a strong batting unit setting a sub-180 total.
Key Betting Angles
- Slight chase advantage in Blast specifically (60% chase wins, 24 of 40)
- Broader all-T20 sample closer to 53% — direction holds, magnitude softer
- Par 1st innings ~165 in Blast — competitive 175+, strong 185+
- Short straight boundaries amplify big-hitting tempo
- Modest dew compared to subcontinental venues — toss less decisive
Our Blast Predictions at Grace Road
Ground Facts
- Leicestershire home since 1878
- Smaller domestic ground (~6,000 capacity)
- Shorter straight boundaries (~63m) reward lofted hitting
- Pavilion End and Bennett End
- Ends: Pavilion End & Bennett End
- Highest total: 255/2 (domestic T20)
Grace Road FAQ
Is Grace Road better for batting first or chasing?
In the Vitality Blast, the chasing side has won 60% of matches at Grace Road. That is a meaningful chase lean — captains winning the toss often bowl first.
What is a good T20 score at Grace Road?
The average first-innings total in the Blast at Grace Road is around 165. Par is moderate, so a total of 175+ is usually competitive.
Does dew affect matches at Grace Road?
Dew impact at Grace Road is light. Unlike subcontinental venues, evening dew rarely forces a chase-only strategy here.
Which county plays home matches at Grace Road?
Grace Road is the Vitality Blast home of Leicestershire.
Other T20 Blast Venues
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