Budinger Blitzes Fifty But Bears Break Foxes Win Streak
Fri 4 Jul 2025
By Jon Culley, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Sol Budinger bashed a 23-ball half-century but a Hasan Ali-inspired response gave Bears victory by six wickets spare at Uptonsteel County Ground.
The win boosts Bears’ chances of qualifying for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals for a fifth consecutive season, as Sam Hain (55 from 38 balls) and Dan Mousley (64 not out from 48) helped the visitors chase 155 with ten balls to spare.
After the Birmingham-based side chose to bowl, an extraordinary opening powerplay saw Budinger smash 40 off 17 balls but the Foxes careered from 38 without loss to 71 for four after two stunning overs from Hasan.
There were eight boundaries from the first 13 deliveries, culminating in Budinger walloping Hasan’s first ball over the rope at midwicket in what looked potentially another big night for the explosive left-hander, who smashed a 15-ball half-century against Derbyshire on the opening night of Leicestershire’s season.
But how the picture changed. Hasan, who took a hat-trick against Derbyshire in figures of six for 23 a month ago, now dismissed Rishi Patel, caught at long-off, and international team-mate Shan Masood, tamely bunting to extra cover, with consecutive balls. 7
Budinger picked up a second six in taking 19 off Mousley but Hasan immediately grabbed back the spotlight by bowling Rehan Ahmed, stepping across, and trapping Louis Kimber in front with the first and fifth balls of his second over.
By the 12th over, the Foxes were 102 for seven after Budinger had been caught on the slog-sweep, Liam Trevaskis holed out to wide long-on and Ben Cox was bowled playing back to Gleeson.
Van Beek (26 from 25) and Tom Scriven (19 from 17) added 36 but it took five overs and the momentum from the start of the innings had dissipated, Gleeson (2-24), Mousley and Ed Barnard picking up a wicket apiece at the death as the home side were dismissed in 19.3 overs.
Leicestershire took two wickets in the powerplay but the Bears were comfortable at 59 for two from six, although New Zealand batter Tom Latham made only a single before he was caught at cover off Sam Wood after Alex Davies had been caught behind attempting to hook Van Beek.
By halfway the target was down to 60 at 95 for two with Hain and Mousley able to progress without taking too many risks, with little need to chase boundaries beyond those that were there for the taking.
Hain and Mousley both survived difficult chances but as the last five overs arrived with only 21 more needed, the result was effectively decided, even though Hain would be caught at long-on off Kimber before the Foxes skipper collected a second wicket in Moeen Ali with a return catch.
