Handscomb Hundred Helps Foxes To Thrilling Win At Hove

Holders Leicestershire Foxes made it three wins out of four in this year’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup when they beat Sussex Sharks by ten runs at Hove. 

A magnificent 119 from 80 deliveries by Australia’s Peter Handscomb had led Leicestershire to a total of 363 for seven. And that looked much too much for a Sussex side who had averaged just 200 in their previous four matches.

But Sussex, who were boosted by six changes, made a tremendous match of it after appearing out of it at 196 for four in the 35th over. A stand of 131 in 12 overs between Tom Haines (129) and John Simpson (85) put their side back in the reckoning.

Haines and Tom Clark had put on 120 for the first wicket before Clark was bowled by Ben Mike for a 74-ball 72 in the 20th over.  He had been dropped by Mike before he had scored.

The Sussex innings then stuttered as Charlie Tear, Tom Alsop and Fynn Hudson-Prentice all fell cheaply as the asking rate climbed to more than ten an over  But, Haines and Simpson turned the game round, with Simpson scoring at a rate of 166.66, with eight fours and three sixes. But when Simpson was out in the penultimate over, with twenty still needed, it was finally all over.

Ben Mike starred with the ball, taking 3/63 from his ten overs, while Matt Salisbury took 2/75 from his ten. Ian Holland the most economical bowler on show throughout the day, conceding just 43 runs and picking up one wicket from his allocation.

Leicestershire were invited to bat first in run-friendly conditions and their large total was built around an opening stand of 129 between Ian Holland (65), and Sol Budinger (84) and a fourth wicket partnership of 146 between their two best batsmen, Handscomb and Ajinkya Rahane (68).

All-rounder Holland, making his return to the side to open both batting and bowling, and Budinger, who had already shown good form in the competition this season, built the platform for their side’s innings by batting through the opening 20 overs, scoring 52 from the first 10-over powerplay and raising the hundred in the 17th over.

This was the third time in four innings that Budinger had reached fifty and both he and his opening partner reached the landmark by striking the expensive Archie Lenham for six.  But it was Lenham who broke through in the 21st over when Holland edged to short third man. He had hit eight fours and two sixes in 67 balls.

Captain Lewis Hill fell cheaply, and then Budinger’s 77-ball stay ended after striking at 109, with six fours and five sixes. But at 183 for three after 30 overs, and Handscomb and Rahane at the crease, the Foxes were sitting pretty.

Both batsmen showed their experience as they exploited the short boundary on the east side of the ground but the Sussex bowlers, with the exceptions of the impressive Hudson-Prentice and Jack Carson, were guilty of bowling too short in the conditions. Clark’s solitary over went for 22 as Handscomb pulled his first five balls for 4, 4, 4, 4 and six.

The 300 came up in the 44th over as Rahane drove Lenham for six but the batsman was fourth out at 318 when he edged a slower delivery from Hudson-Prentice to the keeper. But Handscomb carried on to strike 15 fours and two sixes.

Australian Handscomb reached his century off 70 balls, pulling Hudson-Prentice round the corner for four to reach his maiden List A century for Leicestershire - after topping the Club's run-scoring charts in their trophy-winning campaign last season.