Foxes chase down mammoth 326 to record back-to-back victories

RLC 7 | Leicestershire Foxes 327 for six v Somerset 326 for seven “ Foxes win by four wickets

SCORECARD | Available from Cricinfo HERE

POINTS | Leicestershire Foxes 2, Somerset 0

REPORT | A record breaking fifth wicket partnership from Hill and Kimber led the Running Foxes to a historic victory away at Taunton.

Hill recorded his second century of the 2021 Royal London Cup, and Kimber recorded his maiden List A half-century as County chased down 327 for the win.

A record breaking sixth wicket partnership for Somerset, set by Bartlett and Thomas, set up an enthralling contest at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

The news from the middle at Taunton was that skipper Lewis Hill won the toss and opted to open the bowling on a brisk day in Somerset, on a green wicket with a dew-topped outfield.

Ed Barnes and Will Davis opened the bowling for the Running Foxes, as Paul Nixon named an unchanged XI from the victorious team over Surrey on Thursday.

Five overs into the first innings and the Foxes were holding the hosts, with Somerset sat on 29 without loss.

The beginning of the seventh over brought the first wicket for the Running Foxes, with Ben Mike needing no loosener to get into the swing of things.

The Foxes man struck with his first ball of the day as his delivery seamed away from Young (12, 14b) found the edge of the batsman and was caught behind by Swindells “ Somerset were 36 for one after 7.1 as Byrom joined Davies in the middle.

Byrom’s stay, though, lasted just 10 minutes before Ed Barnes picked up his just rewards for a superb start.

The Somerset man nicked one through straight to the hands of Rishi Patel at first slip and was dismissed for a-run-a-ball seven, prompting Hildreth to the crease with Somerset on 47 for two after nine overs.

The duo of Davies and Hildreth soon saw the hosts over the 50-run mark, after 9.4 overs, as the hosts’ powerplay ended on 52 for two.

The third wicket partnership began to motor with Hildreth joining his partner in the middle by getting himself in, with the duo now looking to build a fruitful partnership for the hosts.

Mike, though, had other ideas as the third wicket’s stand ended on 34, with the wicket of Hildreth.

An important wicket in the landscape of this tie, and crucial to see the veteran off early, after the Foxes man strangled him down the leg side and Swindells accepting the feather for 11 (18b).

Somerset were 81 for three as Goldsworthy joined Davies in the middle.

Davies brought up his half-century after an over of the fourth wicket partnership, by turning Griffiths down to fine leg and over the rope for his fifth four of the day, with the fifty coming in 57 balls and including one six.

Goldsworthy could only record seven runs, before a brilliant piece of bowling by Ahmed saw the Foxes man claim his first wicket of the day.

The 16-year-old sent down a delivery that beat the outside of the edge of the advancing Goldsworthy, leaving Swindells a chance of a stumping to see the Somerset man off.

Somerset were 102 for four as Bartlett joined Davies in the middle, but the fifth wicket partnership lasted just 12 deliveries, and recorded just two runs.

The wicket to fall was the crucial one of Davies for 61 from 70 deliveries, as Davis found the edge of the batsman with Swindells grabbing the nick off. With Somerset now 104 for five, with two new batsmen in the middle, the Running Foxes were looking to be in an increasingly commanding position.

Bartlett led the way for the sixth wicket stand, in fiery fashion, and brought up his fifty after just 51 balls, including one four and four sixes.

The 40th over then saw the sixth wicket stand record it’s one-hundredth run after 110 balls and 70 minutes in the middle together “ Somerset’s 200 was also recorded with 10 overs left in the hosts’ innings.

At this point, the hosts were well and truly back on track after a wobble at the top of the order thanks to the sixth wicket stand.

The sixth wicket partnership then saw Thomas join Bartlett in recording a half-century “ his first in List A cricket on debut for the hosts “ coming from 63 balls, including five fours and one six.

Four overs later and Bartlett went on to record his maiden List A ton for the hosts, from an explosive innings that accelerated the Somerset stance. The century came from just 84 balls, including four fours and seven sixes.

Three balls later, and what was now a record breaking sixth wicket partnership for Somerset against Leicestershire in List A cricket came to an end, after Mike claimed his third wicket of the day by clean bowling Thomas for 75.

The sixth wicket partnership record for Somerset now sat at 182, after surpassing the previous record of 95no set by Keith Parsons and Robert Turner in 2001 at Lord’s.

There was enough time left for Leicestershire to dismiss Bartlett on 108 (89b) after the batsman looked to scoop Davis over third man but failed to beat Patel who took the simple catch.

De Lange (20no, 7b) and Davey (10no, 3b) saw Somerset’s remaining three balls out, ending the hosts’ innings on 326 for seven, leaving the Running Foxes a testing run chase of 327.

Rishi Patel and Harry Swindells began the Running Foxes’ response in positive fashion, with both recording their first boundaries of the innings from the first over.

After five overs, the positive start for the Foxes continued with Leicestershire on 36 without loss.

As the first powerplay was coming to a close, the Running Foxes lost the quick wickets of Swindells (22, 24b) and Rhodes (0, 1b) which saw County on to 54 for two after the first ten overs.

Patel was joined in the middle by skipper Hill with Leicestershire on 51 for two after 9.2.

The third wicket added 34 extra runs for Leicestershire, before Patel’s wicket fell off the bowling of Leonard in the 17th over.

The Foxes man guided the delivery straight to the hands of Hildreth at mid on and was dismissed for a 50-ball 40.

Lilley came in to join Hill in the middle and ended the over with his first maximum of the day, after crashing Leonard over long on.

Leonard’s next over then went for 18 runs, as Lilley recorded two further maximums and a four off the youngster.

Lilley's explosive innings was not always comfortable though, as he soon earned a reprieve after Goldsworthy shelled the chance of a catch at point off the bowling of de Lange in the 20th over.

Lilley continued to live dangerously at the crease and failed to make his second life count after falling to the bowling of Baker two overs later. The Foxes man flicked the delivery over the leg side as he sought out the boundary once more, but Leonard on the rope made no mistake at the second time of asking.

Lilley departed for a 21-ball 39 as Kimber joined Hill in the middle with Leicestershire on 146 for four after 22.3 overs.

Kimber was alongside Hill as the Foxes skipper passed 50 for the third time this season “ the half-century coming from 53 balls, including three fours and one six.

Following 30 overs, the Running Foxes sat on 188 for four, with Hill leading the way, accompanied by Kimber who had faced just under four overs.

Hill’s form continued and he began to find the boundary more and more often as he approached his second List A century of the season.

A huge six over the leg side was followed up by a lovely cover drive for four by the skipper off the bowling of Thomas in a 33rd over that yielded 15 runs for Leicestershire.

Heading into the final 15 overs of the innings, County were sat on 234 for four, requiring 93 further runs and were currently ahead of the required rate.

The best was yet to come for the Running Foxes though, as a 29-run 39th over saw Leicestershire really grab the impetus in the clash.

Three balls into it saw Kimber crack de Lange all the way over the led side for his first maximum of the day, to bring up his maiden List A half-century, from 46 balls, including three fours and one six.

A no-ball followed and resulted in another no-ball that Kimber also cracked back over de Lange’s head. The following ball led to another six from Kimber, again, cracked back over the South African’s head for his third six of the over. The initial no ball resulting in 16 runs for Leicestershire from just one legal delivery.

A four followed the consecutive sixes to see Leicestershire claim 29 runs off it, and Kimber race away to the 70’s.

Five balls later and Hill swept Goldsworthy down to fine leg to run three to bring up his second List A ton of the season, coming from 95 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.

Kimber showed no signs of slowing down as he recorded consecutive maximums off Leonard to move him onto 85 “ that is as far as he got though, before Leonard fought back with his wicket after the Foxes man looked for a third consecutive six, but was caught on the boundary by Byrom for 85 (57b).

The catch from Byrom saw the end of a record breaking fifth wicket partnership for Leicestershire against Somerset in List A cricket, eclipsing the previous record of 118 set by Darren Stevens and Jeremy Snape in Bath, in 2004.

Mike emerged to join Hill in the middle with Leicestershire on 304 for five, requiring just 23 further runs from the remaining 9.1 overs.

The duo could not see the win in together, though, as Hill fell on 107 (106b) after being trapped by Goldsworthy looking to sweep him away.

Prior to this, Mike did all he could to see the Foxes over the line alongside his skipper after following up his first maximum of the day with his first four of the day from consecutive Leonard deliveries.

Ahmed made his way out to face what turned out to be the remaining four legal deliveries of the tie alongside Mike, facing just one himself, before a wide from Baker brought the game to a close, confirming Leicestershire's impressive four wicket victory over Somerset at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Mike finished not out on 15 from 12 balls, accompanied by Ahmed (1no, 1b).

With the win, an intriguing final round of 2021 Group B Royal London Cup fixtures awaits on Thursday as Leicestershire travel to Northamptonshire knowing that a win could take them through to the knockout stages.

FIGURES | Barnes 10-0-63-1, Davis 8-0-51-2, Mike 10-0-75-3, Griffiths 9-0-54-0, Ahmed 10-1-62-1, Rhodes 3-0-18-0

Baker 8.4-0-46-2, Davey 8-0-45-1, Leonard 8-0-84-2, de Lange 8-0-80-0, Goldsworthy 9-0-42-1, Thomas 3-0-28-0

FOXES | Patel, Swindells (wk), Lilley, Hill (C), Rhodes, Kimber, Mike, Ahmed, Barnes, Griffiths, Davis

SOMERSET | Davies (wk), Young, Byrom, Hildreth, Goldsworthy, Bartlett, Davey (C), Thomas, Leonard, de Lange, Baker

IMAGES | Thanks to John Mallett of Outside Off for providing images throughout the game.