Leicestershire Foxes continued their strong performance in this year's Metro Bank One-Day Cup, securing their third victory out of four matches by defeating Sussex Sharks by ten runs in a high-octane game at Hove. The encounter, which saw a staggering 716 runs scored, showcased a determined Sussex team pushing the match to the final moments despite their five consecutive losses.
Australia’s Peter Handscomb was instrumental in Leicestershire's innings, smashing 119 off just 80 balls and helping his team reach an imposing total of 363 for 7. Given Sussex's previous average score of 200 over their last four matches, this seemed an insurmountable target.
However, Sussex, who made six changes to their lineup, displayed remarkable resilience. At 196 for four in the 35th over, they looked out of the game. Yet, a spectacular 131-run partnership in 12 overs between Tom Haines, who scored 129, and John Simpson, who added 85, revitalised their hopes. Simpson's performance against Leicestershire this season has been exceptional, with 477 runs for just one dismissal.
Haines and Tom Clark set a strong foundation with a 120-run opening partnership before Clark was bowled by Ben Mike for 72 off 74 balls in the 20th over, having been dropped by Mike earlier. The Sussex innings then faltered as Charlie Tear, Tom Alsop, and Fynn Hudson-Prentice fell cheaply, causing the required run rate to exceed ten per over. However, Haines' consecutive sixes off Liam Trevaskis propelled him to his second List A century, and Simpson's aggressive 166.66 strike rate, with eight fours and three sixes, kept Sussex in the hunt. Even after Haines' dismissal at 318, Sussex needed 41 off three overs, but Simpson's departure in the penultimate over sealed their fate, leaving them 20 runs short.
Leicestershire, surprisingly asked to bat first in favourable conditions, amassed their total through an opening stand of 129 between Ian Holland (65) and Sol Budinger (84), followed by a crucial fourth-wicket partnership of 146 between Handscomb and Ajinkya Rahane (68).
Holland, returning to the side as both opener and bowler, and Budinger, who had been in fine form throughout the competition, laid the foundation by batting through the initial 20 overs, scoring 52 during the first 10-over powerplay and reaching 100 by the 17th over. This marked the third time in four innings that Budinger crossed fifty, with both he and Holland achieving the milestone by hitting sixes off the expensive Archie Lenham. Lenham eventually dismissed Holland in the 21st over, after he had hit eight fours and two sixes in his 67-ball innings.
Following the quick dismissal of captain Lewis Hill, Budinger's 77-ball innings ended after a striking rate of 109, with six fours and five sixes. At 183 for 3 after 30 overs, with Handscomb and Rahane at the crease, Leicestershire was well-positioned. Both batsmen leveraged their experience to exploit the short boundary on the east side of the ground, while Sussex bowlers, except for Hudson-Prentice and Jack Carson, struggled with their lengths. Handscomb dominated a solitary over from Clark, pulling his first five balls for consecutive boundaries and a six, contributing to a 22-run over.
Leicestershire reached 300 in the 44th over when Rahane hit Lenham for a six but was soon out at 318, edging a slower ball from Hudson-Prentice to the keeper. Handscomb continued his onslaught, finishing with 15 fours and two sixes, solidifying a memorable and hard-fought victory for Leicestershire.