Leicestershire Foxes secure two-wicket victory over Gloucestershire in One-Day Cup opener
The Leicestershire Foxes commenced their One-Day Cup campaign with a two-wicket win against Gloucestershire. The match, held at Kibworth, saw Ben Cox lead the chase with a half-century, guiding his team to victory in their first Group A fixture.
Gloucestershire posted a total of 235 runs in 49 overs. Cameron Bancroft contributed 40 runs, while Ollie Price and Jack Taylor each scored 36. The team faced an early setback, losing James Bracey in the first over. Despite several batters making starts, none were able to convert them into larger scores.
The Foxes‘ bowling attack was effective in taking regular wickets. Alex Green claimed 3-53, with Ajaz Patel adding 2-32. Ian Holland and Ben Green also chipped in with 2-36 and 2-54 respectively, helping to reduce Gloucestershire to 192-9 by the 40th over. A 43-run partnership between Daz Ahmed (30) and Will Williams (14*) helped Gloucestershire reach their final score.
Foxes’ Chase and Key Contributions
Chasing a target of 236, the Leicestershire Foxes reached 239-8 in 48.2 overs. Ben Cox, batting at number seven, scored 51 runs from 59 balls. His innings was crucial after the chase briefly appeared to falter when Ruan de Swardt (42) and Ben Green (1) were dismissed, leaving the Foxes at 194-7 with nine overs remaining.
Earlier in the innings, Rishi Patel contributed 39 runs and Hamza Shaikh added 33. Ajaz Patel played a significant role in relieving pressure towards the end of the match, scoring an unbeaten 22 and hitting the winning runs to secure the two-wicket victory for Leicestershire with nine balls to spare.
This match marked the Foxes‘ first game since their T20 Blast quarter-final defeat. Gloucestershire‘s Graeme van Buuren took 2-43, contributing to some tense moments during the chase.
Squad Updates and Season Opener
The Metro Bank One-Day Cup returns for the 2026 season, with the Leicestershire Foxes opening their campaign at Kibworth Cricket Club. This out-ground fixture saw Gloucestershire become the fourth visiting county at Kibworth, following Essex in 2023, Surrey in 2024, and Nottinghamshire in 2025.
Both Leicestershire and Gloucestershire are among the counties least impacted by The Hundred competition. Gloucestershire retained their entire squad for the tournament, while the Foxes were without only Rehan Ahmed for the duration of the competition.
The Foxes‘ squad for the match included several new additions. Hamza Shaikh and Mo Rizvi, who joined the club in the past week, were included in the 15-man squad and were in line to make their One-Day Cup debuts. Sheridon Gumbs, who had previously played in the competition for Surrey, was also set to make his List A debut for Leicestershire.
Ian Holland returned to the Foxes squad after a stint in Major League Cricket, and Ajaz Patel was back in contention after being rested during the Vitality Blast campaign. Sol Budinger remained unavailable due to a knee injury sustained against Lancashire on 28 May.
Tickets for the match were available upon entry to Kibworth CC, with parking provided at Kibworth Town FC. All the action from the game was broadcast live on Foxes TV.
Source: bbc.com
