Cricket

Leicestershire's depleted squad defied the odds to secure their first victory of the Division Two season, crushing Middlesex by 123 runs at Grace Road. Despite missing key players due to injury and unavailability, Lewis Hill's team showcased resilience and determination to inflict Middlesex's first defeat of the campaign.After being dismissed for a paltry 86 in their first innings, Leicestershire rallied to post a formidable 372 in their second, thanks to crucial contributions from Ben Green (77) and Harry Goldsworthy (75). Middlesex's chase of 466 proved insurmountable, as they were bowled out for 342.The decisive moment came after tea, when Middlesex's leading runscorers, Leus Du Plooy (60) and Ryan Higgins (41), were dismissed in quick succession. Ben Mike, on loan from Somerset, played a pivotal role with eight wickets in the match, including three in the second innings. Green also impressed with four wickets and a valuable 77 runs.Middlesex skipper Toby Roland-Jones offered late resistance with a swashbuckling 59 off 33 balls, including eight sixes. However, his efforts proved futile as Leicestershire secured the victory with a catch on the mid-wicket boundary.The win was a testament to Leicestershire's fighting spirit and the contributions of their unsung heroes. Mike and Green emerged as match-winners, while the entire team displayed unwavering determination to overcome adversity. Middlesex, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance and will need to regroup for their upcoming fixtures.

Leicestershire's bowlers dominated the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Middlesex, dismissing the visitors for a paltry 86 and establishing a commanding lead of 133 runs.Ben Mike and loan signing Ben Green were the stars of the show for Leicestershire, sharing nine wickets between them. Mike, a 22-year-old seamer, claimed a career-best 5-22, while Green, a 26-year-old all-rounder, took 4-28.Earlier, Middlesex's Ryan Higgins and Toby Roland-Jones had led the way with the ball, dismissing Leicestershire for 179. Lewis Goldsworthy and Lewis Hill had shared a 65-run partnership for the third wicket, but a collapse from 82 for 2 to 126 for 8 was rescued by fast bowler Scott Currie's unbeaten 34.Middlesex's batting woes continued in their second innings, as they lost three wickets before tea and another three shortly after the resumption. Green was particularly impressive, bowling with pace and accuracy to claim four wickets.Leicestershire extended their lead to 133 by reaching the close at 40 for 1, with Sol Budinger the only batsman dismissed.The match is evenly poised heading into day two, but Leicestershire will be confident of securing a victory after their impressive bowling performance.