Leicestershire Round Off Pre-Season With Nottinghamshire Win

Leicestershire signed off their pre-season preparations in perfect fashion, beating Nottinghamshire by eight wickets on the final day at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Rishi Patel and Rehan Ahmed both made half-centuries as the Foxes reached their target of 147 inside 32 overs.

Taking a six-run lead into day three, Leicestershire were back out with ball in hand at the start of proceedings. The visitors made a fast start, taking 16 from the opening two overs before Chris Wright intervened.

The 39-year-old struck twice in as many overs. First, he had away captain Haseeb Hameed caught by Louis Kimber at second slip for 13, before Freddie McCann (1) had his off stump uprooted shortly after.

Leicestershire’s attack bossed the opening hour’s exchange, with Ian Holland getting Ben Slater (26) caught at cover by Ahmed and Ben Green trapping Joe Clarke (4) in front with his very first delivery “ following on from his magnificent 83 not out on Thursday afternoon.

Coming together at 49/4, Matthew Montgomery and Lyndon James responded strongly. The pair repelled the home onslaught to take lunch 93/4, leading by 87.

For the second time in the match, it was trial by spin in the afternoon, as Patel, Ahmed, and Liam Trevaskis bowled all 13 overs before Nottinghamshire declared 41 overs into their innings on 152/4. Montgomery (48*) and James (52*) adding 103 together.

Leicestershire made a healthy start to their second dig, with two glorious off-drives from Patel setting the tone during Josh Tongue’s opening over.

Sol Budinger repeated the feat in the next Tongue over, picking off the England international for boundaries either side of the wicket with immaculate timing.

Two further aesthetic straight drives followed before the opener edged Tongue behind to ‘keeper Dane Schadendorf for 20, leaving the Foxes 47/1.

Patel continued to accelerate the scoring, reaching his half-century from 54 deliveries, including ten fours. He retired out on 51 during the tea interval, bringing Ahmed to join all-rounder Ian Holland.

The pair made steady progress throughout the early part of the evening, as they chipped away at the target before an Ahmed offensive made the result sure.

Taking 20 runs off a McCann over, including two monstrous sixes, the exuberant all-rounder looked in excellent order given it was his first knock since mid-January.

With victory already secured, the nature of pre-season allowed for an extra over, during which Ahmed whacked younger brother “ and fellow spinner “ Farhan for a huge six to reach his half-century. No brotherly love lost there.

Dovetailing perfectly with Ahmed, Holland finished an assured innings unbeaten on 35 from 63 deliveries at the other end in his new role at number three.

For Leicestershire, it concludes a productive pre-season, with the Foxes ready to kick off their 2025 campaign away at Glamorgan next Friday.