Report: Warwickshire v Leicestershire (a)

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Report: Warwickshire v Leicestershire (a) - One Day Cup

Warwickshire 220 all out (46 overs) v Leicestershire Foxes 222 for seven (47.1 overs). Leicestershire Foxes win by three wickets.

2026-08-07T21:40+01:00

Warwickshire slipped to a three-wicket defeat against Leicestershire Foxes in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Uptonsteel Grace Road.

Reduced to 31 for four on a slow pitch offering early movement, Warwickshire fought back through Kai Smith, whose 57 – his first half-century of the campaign – helped lift the visitors to 220 all out in 46 overs.

Leicestershire's chase also began in dramatic fashion as Olly Hannon-Dalby (3-27) ripped through the top order to leave the Foxes 10 for three. However, New Zealand international Nick Kelly anchored the recovery with 86 before Ben Green's unbeaten 45 guided the hosts home with three wickets to spare.

Earlier, Leicestershire made the perfect start with Ben Green's double strike. Rob Yates fell pushing low to the slips before Hamza Shaikh Malik was caught in similar fashion off Ian Holland. Green then bowled Dan Mousley before Alex Davies uppercut Tom Scriven straight to slip, leaving Warwickshire in early trouble at 31 for four.

Smith sparked the recovery, getting off the mark by flicking Scriven through square leg for Warwickshire's first boundary in almost 13 overs. He shared a stand of 62 with Vansh Jani (33), who muscled Alex Green through midwicket and straight-drove Ben Mike for six before Mike ended the partnership when Jani was caught behind attempting a pull.

George Garton maintained the momentum, adding 68 with Smith. He attacked Patel and came down the pitch to pull Scriven square for six, while Smith swung consecutive boundaries leg side off Patel and edged Scriven to reach his half-century. Smith eventually holed out at mid-off shortly afterwards, and Garton was then adjudged caught behind off Alex Green, although replays suggested he was unfortunate.

Michael Booth and Ethan Bamber added a rapid 49-run partnership late in the innings before Patel and Holland wrapped up the innings, with Warwickshire finishing on 220.

Warwickshire's bowlers then threatened to make the modest target enough.

Hannon-Dalby struck in the opening overs as Rishi Patel clipped him to deep square leg before the seamer jagged one back to bowl Ben Mike and dismissed Stephen Eskinazi with his very next delivery to leave Leicestershire reeling at 10 for three.

Jonny Tattersall briefly counterattacked with consecutive cover boundaries off Bamber before Booth trapped him lbw. Kelly and Ben Cox rebuilt, with Kelly driving beautifully down the ground and through extra cover while Cox collected three boundaries in one Booth over during a partnership that was ended when Cox was squared up by Jacob Taylor and caught behind.

Kelly then shared a sixth-wicket stand of 47 with Ian Holland (30), keeping the scoreboard moving and the required rate below five despite boundaries proving difficult to find. Holland was eventually trapped lbw by Booth, leaving Leicestershire on 117 for six.

Kelly continued to seize the initiative, reaching his half-century from 73 balls before pulling Taylor over square leg for four and striking two off-side boundaries off Booth. He then shared a decisive partnership of 75 in 13 overs with Ben Green (45 not out), putting Leicestershire firmly in control.

Although Kelly eventually departed for 86 after smashing a sharp return catch back to Rob Yates with 29 still required from 42 balls, Green remained composed. His pulled six behind square eased any remaining nerves before he and Tom Scriven guided Leicestershire to a thrilling three-wicket victory.