Leicestershire will compete in their second One-Day Cup final in four years after defeating Notts Outlaws by 23 runs in their semi-final clash at Grace Road.
Leicestershire Batting Performance
The Foxes set a challenging total of 303-7 in their 50 overs, driven by a significant contribution from 20-year-old Hamza Shaikh. Shaikh scored a match-defining 104 runs off 109 balls, marking his first century for the club since joining from Warwickshire a month prior. He was supported by Nick Kelly, who added 53 runs, and together they formed a crucial 117-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Dillon Pennington was the most effective bowler for Notts Outlaws, taking 3-65.
Notts Outlaws' Chase
Notts Outlaws began their pursuit with a solid opening partnership of 63 runs between Ben Martindale and Freddie McCann. However, England all-rounder Rehan Ahmed made an immediate impact, trapping Martindale leg before wicket for 43 with his first delivery. Although McCann and captain Haseeb Hameed steadied the innings with a 69-run partnership, Hameed was run out on 63 after a mix-up. The Outlaws' chase faltered in the later stages, with 19-year-old Alex Green taking key wickets. Green dismissed Kyle Verreynne for 43 and Farhan Ahmed in the 48th over, finishing with figures of 4-40 and all but sealing Leicestershire's victory.
Final Matchup
Leicestershire's victory earns them a place in the final against Middlesex. This will be the sixth One-Day Cup final to be held at Trent Bridge since the competition moved from Lord's in 2019. Previous finals at the venue have seen victories by counties such as Glamorgan, Kent, Leicestershire, and Worcestershire.