Metro Bank One Day Cup Preview: Leicestershire v Somerset
THE MATCH
Somerset take on Leicestershire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Uptonsteel Grace Road tomorrow (Sunday August 2nd).
Tickets for this match are available now:
Play is due to commence at 11am.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
You can keep up to date using the dedicated Match Centre on this website.
There will be a live stream of this match provided by Leicestershire County Cricket Club.
In-play updates will appear on our X feed (formerly Twitter).
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Stephen Eskinazi
2025 Position: 7th (Group A)
2025 Most Runs: Shan Masood (400)
2025 Most Wickets: Alex Green (18)
Overview: Leicestershire fans have endured a dismal season thus far but the Foxes have performed well in the 50-over format in recent seasons, winners of this competition in 2023 and semi-finalists in 2024. There is a confidence they can challenge again.
Player to watch: Young pace bowler Alex Green was a sensation in the 2025 competition, taking five wickets in an innings three times. Still only 19, and with more experience in the locker, he will again be a dangerous opponent.
Young gun: Former Surrey academy player Sheridan Gumbs impressed with his quality and composure on his first-class debut for Leicestershire last month. The 22-year-old left-hand batter has a chance to build on that promise after signing a new deal.
Final thought: Leicestershire’s season feels like it might benefit from a reset and installing experienced former Middlesex white-ball captain Eskinazi as 50-overs skipper looks a smart move. The 32-year-old also has an outstanding record in List A cricket, with six centuries in just 29 innings. The addition of well-credentialed young batter Hamza Shaikh on the eve of the tournament is exciting after he agreed a three-year deal.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset will be without Alfie Ogborne and have named the following squad for this fixture:
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “There were a lot of positives to take from yesterday’s result at Kent and games like that are decided by fine margins but this is a young squad and they’ll learn from that.
“We now have the opportunity to get back to winning ways tomorrow at Leicestershire and that’s what we’ll be looking to do. We’ve got 24 hours to review before we go again and it’s certainly not a case of reinventing the wheel because we’re doing a lot of things really well.
CLASSIC MATCH
We go back to 2001 for the classic List A match between the two sides at Leicester.
The 45-over Norwich Union League match went down to the final over and saw Somerset come out on top by just 10 runs thanks to a century opening stand between Peter Bowler and Ian Blackwell.
Somerset Captain, Jamie Cox won the toss and elected to bat first.
Bowler (77) and Blackwell (75) enjoyed an opening partnership of 138 as the visitors made a strong start.
Rob Turner (35 from 33 balls) and Keith Parsons (30 from 33) made important contributions lower down the order as Somerset finished on 250 for six from their allotted overs.
The hosts made a positive start to the chase with Trevor Ward (43) and Shahid Afridi (58) shared an opening stand of 96. However, 96 for one soon became 157 for six as the Somerset bowlers turned the screw.
Neil Burns kept the Foxes in the game, but was run out for 55 with 23 runs still required.
Jamie Grove (three for 24) was the pick of the Somerset attack as the visitors limited Leicestershire to 240 for nine.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are planning to attend the match, all the information you need can be found on the official Leicestershire CCC Website.
NEXT MATCH
Somerset’s next match is on Friday (August 7th) when we take on Surrey at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Tickets for this match, which includes the Somerset Introducing Music Festival, are available now:
The Somerset Introducing Music Festival will be headlined by Supersonic Queen; the UK’s most dynamic Queen tribute
The festival line up will also feature some outstanding local music acts who will be performing throughout the day, so make sure that you don’t miss out on this brilliant celebration of both live elite sport and live music!
