Foxes Strengthen T20 Preparations With T20 Double Header Success

Leicestershire’s Second XI, featuring a host of First Team stars, won two from two in Friday’s T20 double-header against National Counties XI at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Led by new captain Peter Handscomb, the likes of Rishi Patel, Rehan Ahmed and Ben Cox all starred alongside as the team ramped up their preparations for the return of the Vitality Blast.

TEAM: Patel, Swindells, Handscomb*, Kimber, Ahmed, Cox+, Evans, Mike, Currie, Walker, Hull.

Batting first in the afternoon game, the Foxes posted 185/8 from their allocation. Opener Patel top scored with 44 from just 24 balls (7x4, 1x6), while Cox and Sam Evans both made 31.

In his first T20 outing in the green of Leicestershire at Grace Road, Cox caught the eye with two beautifully measured sweeps off Euan Woods, before ramping Ed Moulton to the ropes shortly after.

Josh Hull (4-0-24-1) struck in the third over of the visitors’ reply, having Nils Priestly caught by Rehan Ahmed for a six-ball duck. Scott Currie also caught the eye with impressive returns of 4-0-26-3.

Ben Mike (2/44), Roman Walker (1/27) and Rehan Ahmed (1/33) also in the wickets as National Counties fell 12 runs shy “ ending 173/8.

The Foxes bowled first in game two, with the side unchanged. Adding another spin option to the ranks, Louis Kimber bowled a very economical spell of 3-0-16-2 in the middle phase, including removing the dangerous away skipper, Dan Lincoln, for 32.

Mike (4-0-28-2) and Josh Hull (4-0-30-2) again impressed opening the bowling, while Walker added wicket (1/21) as he stepped up his injury comeback.

Patel led the charge in Leicestershire’s chase, smashing 66 from just 33 deliveries “ including four huge bombs over the ropes.

Skipper Handscomb also passed 50, making 55 from 39 balls to steer the team towards the target in customary composed fashion. Mike (15*) and Ahmed (6*) getting the side over the line.

A scorecard for game one can be viewed HERE. A scorecard for game two can be viewed HERE.