Essex CCC | One Day Cup Match Preview - 15/08/2023

After Sunday’s four-wicket win over Hampshire saw Leicestershire complete a clean sweep of away victories in Group A of the Metro Bank One Day Cup, the table-topping Foxes return to Leicester for a trio of home fixtures.

The first test will see the visit of Essex Eagles, as Leicestershire’s First Team make their debut appearance at the idyllic home of Kibworth Cricket Club.

Essex come into the fixture off the back of a five-wicket defeat to Yorkshire at Chelmsford last time out, having won one, lost three and seen one no-result from their five games so far.

Last Time We Met:

The previous meeting between the two sides back in 2014 saw Leicestershire take victory by 34 runs in a low-scoring affair at Chelmsford.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Foxes were dismissed for 142. Graham Napier took 5/43, while New Zealand star Scott Styris scored what proved to be a crucial 44 not out for Leicestershire.

Anthony Ireland took four wickets in response, while Charlie Shreck and Shiv Thakor claimed three apiece, as the Foxes skittled out the hosts for just 108 to claim the win.

In Focus:

Sol Budinger has hit back-to-back fifties for the Foxes and is showing the white-ball pedigree that first attracted interest in his services last summer.

A belligerent opening batter, the left-hander has registered 263 at an impressive average of 52.6, all while striking at 134.87 “ reliably getting the side off to speedy starts in the first Powerplay.

He has three half-centuries to his name from five matches so far this campaign, and there’s genuine justification to believe three-figures are just around the corner.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Beau Webster has impressed in his stint with Essex so far. The all-rounder leads his county’s run-scoring charts with 128 at 32, including a high score of 73 against Hampshire last Tuesday.

The Australian all-rounder also bowls handy off-breaks, and sits as Essex’s joint-leading wicket-taker so far this term, with eight poles at an average of 32.5.

Squad:

The Foxes revert to the same 13-strong squad that has been selected for the bulk of the group stage so far.

Leicestershire Foxes: Ackermann, Budinger, Evans, Handscomb+, Hill*, Hull, Kimber, Mulder, Patel, Ramji, Scriven, Walker, Wright.