Shaikh, Green send Leicestershire into final

Young talents Hamza Shaikh and Alex Green starred as Leicestershire secured a 23-run victory over neighbours Nottinghamshire in an action-packed Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-final at Grace Road. The win puts the Foxes into the final, giving them an opportunity to lift their second One-Day Cup in four seasons while denying Nottinghamshire the chance to play the final on their home ground. Opting to bat first, Leicestershire faced an early test. Rishi Patel fell cheaply to a brilliant delivery from Brett Hutton, and the Foxes soon found themselves wobbling at 64 for 3 as skipper Stephen Eskinazi was stumped and Rehan Ahmed top-edged a catch after scoring 31. The innings was rebuilt through a calm, calculated 117-run fourth-wicket partnership between Hamza Shaikh and Nick Kelly. After surviving a caught-and-bowled chance early on, Kelly anchored one end while Shaikh steadily grew in confidence. Kelly eventual fell for 53, bottom-edging a slower ball from Dillon Pennington, but Shaikh pressed on. The 20-year-old former England Under-19s captain accelerated effortlessly, reaching his second List A century with a towering six off Olly Stone. Shaikh’s 104 off 109 balls set a firm foundation, while a late flourish—including Ian Holland’s quickfire 29 off 16 deliveries—helped propel Leicestershire to a formidable 303 for 7 from their 50 overs. Pennington was the pick of the Nottinghamshire attack, returning figures of 3 for 65. Nottinghamshire started their chase brightly, with openers Ben Martindale and Freddie McCann putting on 63 for the first wicket inside 11 overs. However, spinner Rehan Ahmed made the breakthrough, trapping Martindale lbw for 43. The match then swung dramatically through a mix of top-quality bowling and unexpected incidents. Foxes wicketkeeper Ben Cox had to briefly leave the field after being hit on the head by Haseeb Hameed’s follow-through. Shortly after, a crucial mix-up between Hameed and McCann resulted in McCann being run out for 64. Hameed chipped in with a steady 54, but Nottinghamshire struggled to build the sustained, high-scoring partnership required to chase down the target. Tom Scriven struck twice in quick succession to remove Hameed and Jack Haynes, leaving the Outlaws' chase on shaky ground. Though Kyle Verreynne kept Nottinghamshire in contention with a fighting 43, 19-year-old pace bowler Alex Green closed the door on the visitors. Green produced a match-winning spell, tearing through the middle and lower order to finish with 4 for 40. Nottinghamshire were ultimately bowled out for 280, sending the Leicestershire squad and supporters into celebration.