Foxes Score 300 In Record-Breaking T20 Win

Leicestershire secured two comprehensive victories over Staffordshire to ignite their preparations for the return of Vitality Blast cricket this month.

After a seven-wicket success in the opening game, the Foxes clubbed 300 for seven and dismissed the visitors for just 50 to record a resounding 250-run win in the afternoon clash.

Sol Budinger thrashed a combined 126 off 54 balls across the two matches, while Rishi Patel smashed six sixes in an over during game two, making 96 from only 40 deliveries.

GAME TWO:

Batting first, Leicestershire’s opening duo raced out of the traps. Budinger took a liking to Reeve Evitts in the early exchanges, whacking 30 off the fifth over to reach his third half-century in two days. This one from only 16 balls.

The Foxes were 99 for one at the conclusion of the Powerplay when the left-hander pulled to Sam Atkinson at mid-wicket for 60 (20b).

Patel and Kimber continued the onslaught, with the latter taking 29 from Atkinson’s opening over “ including three maximums “ to push the score to 158 for one at the halfway stage.

Patel showed little mercy to off-spinner Jack Redman three overs later, pummelling six successive sixes toward the Pavilion.

He eventually fell for 96 (40b), caught at deep mid-wicket, but Logan van Beek (24, 17b) and Ben Mike (29, 11b) helped take the score to a sensational 300 for seven by the 20-over mark.

Staffordshire then found themselves 12 for five after just 3.1 overs, as Roman Walker ran through the opposing top order. The Welshman getting Rohan Vallabhaneni (5) caught behind before bowling skipper James Kettleborough (0) and Callum Hawkins (1) to collect three wickets in four balls.

The Foxes were ruthless, with Sam Wood, Ben Mike, Rehan Ahmed and Tom Scriven all chipping in, before Wood returned to complete victory by claiming wickets in successive balls. Staffordshire all out for 50, Leicestershire winning by a whopping 250 runs.

GAME ONE:

After Staffordshire raced to 47 without loss after just 4.1 overs, the Foxes may have been fearing a tedious time in the field. But after Wood dismissed opener Isaac Mohammed (37, 19b) caught and bowled, the tide turned in Leicestershire’s favour.

That was in no small part down to spin duo Liam Trevaskis and Rehan Ahmed, posing an exciting glimpse of what lies ahead for the Vitality Blast.

Trevaskis missed the entirety of his maiden T20 campaign for the Foxes through injury last term, but after back-to-back five-fers in four-day cricket, and figures of 4-0-13-4 in Thursday’s victory over SACA, the left-armer is one to watch when the Blast returns on 30 May.

Trevaskis picked up 3 for 14 from his four overs, while Ahmed claimed 2 for 14 in a tight spell from the Pavilion End to completely drain the life out of the visitors’ exuberant start.

Van Beek’s final two overs yielded just ten runs, as well as the wickets of Ethan Berlusconi (34) and Liam Hurt (2), as Staffordshire set the Foxes 127 to win.

Budinger was in cruise control again, spearheading a chase which was concluded in just 12 overs. The opener made 66 not out from 34 balls, including six fours and three sixes.

Lewis Hill also caught the eye, scoring a measured 31 from 24 balls to provide solid support to Budinger, as Leicestershire romped home by seven wickets.

Leicestershire kick off their Vitality Blast campaign at home to Derbyshire Falcons on Friday 30 May. Secure your seats HERE.