Cricket

Leicestershire's Peter Handscomb continued his impressive form with a second century of the season, guiding his team to a respectable 280 for five in response to Glamorgan's 387 on day two of their Vitality County Championship clash.Handscomb, who has been in scintillating touch this season, remained unbeaten on 102, anchoring Leicestershire's innings with a composed knock. He shared a crucial 141-run stand with captain Lewis Hill, who contributed a valuable 92.Glamorgan, however, remain in a strong position, holding a 107-run lead and the advantage of bowling with a new ball. Scott Currie had earlier claimed the first five-wicket haul of his first-class career, finishing with impressive figures of five for 64.Leicestershire's chase got off to a shaky start, losing Marcus Harris and Louis Kimber cheaply. Rishi Patel's dismissal left them struggling at 65 for three. However, Hill and Handscomb steadied the ship, weathering a testing spell from Mir Hamza.Hill reached his second half-century of the season, while Handscomb followed suit shortly after. The pitch appeared to flatten out, making batting easier. Hill's dismissal for 92, caught by Billy Root, was a setback for Leicestershire.Ian Holland, making his debut for Leicestershire, helped push the score past the follow-on point. However, he was caught behind after the new ball was taken.Glamorgan's bowlers will be eager to make early inroads on day three, while Leicestershire will aim to build on their solid start and reduce the deficit further.

Glamorgan's batsmen took advantage of inconsistent Leicestershire bowling to amass a formidable 352 for 8 on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash at Leicester.Eddie Byrom (86) and Kiran Carlson (80) capitalized on the loose bowling, with Glamorgan reaching 190 for 2 at lunch. However, Leicestershire fought back after the break, reducing the visitors to 277 for 7.Sam Northeast, who famously scored an unbeaten 410 at this ground two years ago, provided stability with an unbeaten 61, anchoring Glamorgan's resistance in the final session.Scott Currie emerged as the standout bowler for Leicestershire, claiming 4 for 53, including the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Chris Cooke. Ian Holland, making his Leicestershire debut, also impressed with the new ball.Despite the early setbacks, Glamorgan's batsmen found the boundary with ease, with Byrom and Billy Root scoring freely in the first hour. Leicestershire tightened things up in the second hour, but Byrom and Carlson added 83 in just 12 overs.Byrom's dismissal for 86 off a careless inside edge sparked a collapse, with Carlson (80) and Zain-ul-Hassan falling in quick succession. Northeast and Timm Van der Gugten (32) steadied the ship, but Currie struck again with the second new ball to remove Van der Gugten.Northeast remained unbeaten on 61, ensuring Glamorgan ended the day in a strong position. The Welsh county will be hoping to build on their advantage on day two, while Leicestershire will need to find a way to break through Northeast's resistance.

Leicestershire's batters, led by Rishi Patel and Scott Currie, fought valiantly to save the game on the third day of the Vitality County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Grace Road.Patel, with his first century of the season, and Currie, playing as a nightwatchman, batted throughout the morning without being parted. Patel, who resumed on 51, played a series of glorious straight drives before reaching his century off 203 deliveries. Currie, meanwhile, remained unmoveable, defending his wicket with solid determination.After lunch, Patel was bowled by Matt Taylor, but Currie remained unbeaten in the afternoon session, reaching a maiden first-class half century. However, Gloucestershire maintained their hopes of enforcing victory on the final day by taking four wickets after tea.Cox was leg before to Middleton, Currie was given leg before to Taylor, and Mike missed a slog at a Price delivery which turned and hit off stump. Price then dismissed Hull leg before to end Leicestershire's innings.In their second innings, Leicestershire openers Patel and Marcus Harris saw the home side through to the close without being parted after Gloucestershire enforced the follow on.Patel's century and Currie's maiden half century were the highlights of a determined batting display by Leicestershire. However, Gloucestershire will need all ten wickets in Leicestershire's second innings to secure victory.

Gloucestershire's Cameron Bancroft and Ben Charlesworth shattered records on the opening day of their Division Two Vitality county championship match against Leicestershire at Grace Road. The duo forged a historic 316-run opening partnership, eclipsing the previous record of 315 set by Herbert Sutcliffe and Len Hutton for Yorkshire in 1937.Bancroft, who scored his second century in as many innings, reached 160 before being dismissed. Charlesworth, in his maiden first-class century, contributed 126, including 10 fours and six sixes. Both batters enjoyed moments of fortune, with Bancroft dropped on 84 and Charlesworth surviving a no-ball on 58.Leicestershire, who have drawn their first five championship fixtures, made changes to their starting lineup, bringing in Josh Hull for Ben Green. Gloucestershire, fresh from their victory over Northants, handed a debut to Beau Webster.Despite humid conditions and a green pitch, Leicestershire captain Lewis Hill opted to bowl first. However, Bancroft and Charlesworth dominated the bowling, scoring freely and frustrating the Foxes. Bancroft reached his half-century off 84 balls, while Charlesworth struggled initially but eventually found his rhythm.In the afternoon, Charlesworth reached his century with a towering six, while Bancroft edged Ahmed but was dropped. Charlesworth eventually fell for 126, caught at long-off off Louis Kimber. Bancroft followed soon after, chopping a delivery onto his stumps.Ollie Price and Miles Hammond saw Gloucestershire through to the close, with the innings ending nine balls early due to bad light. Gloucestershire will resume on 385 for 2, with a commanding lead over Leicestershire.

Peter Handscomb, the experienced Australian batsman, has been appointed as the captain of Leicestershire for the upcoming T20 Blast season. Despite his limited recent exposure to the format, Leicestershire's director of cricket, Claude Henderson, believes Handscomb possesses the necessary qualities to lead the team.Handscomb has only played six matches in the Big Bash League over the past two seasons, but his extensive experience in other formats has convinced Leicestershire that he is the right man for the job. The Foxes are aiming to qualify for T20 Finals Day for the first time since 2011, when they won their third title."I'm very excited to lead this team," said Handscomb. "The balance of the side looks good and hopefully we can perform to the standards we've set ourselves."Handscomb initially joined Leicestershire for six County Championship fixtures last year, but his deal was extended, and he ended up playing five times in the Blast, including three as captain. He signed a two-year extension to cover 2024 and 2025 at the end of last season and is their leading Championship run-scorer this season.Leicestershire won the Metro Bank Cup last year and hope to replicate that success in the T20 Blast. "We showed in the One Day Cup last year what we can do in white-ball cricket, so it's an exciting prospect to try and replicate that in the T20s this year," said Handscomb. "We want to entertain and play a fun brand of cricket."Henderson said: "Pete holds all the necessary qualities we are looking for in a captain. Not only does he possess extensive leadership experience, but he is also an incredibly calm head on the field and a highly respected voice in the changing room."Leicestershire finished bottom of the North Group last summer with two wins from 14 games, but they have added several new players to their squad in the off-season, including Ben Mike, Liam Trevaskis, Scott Currie, and Ben Cox. Wiaan Mulder will also return to the club as their other overseas player, alongside Handscomb. Rehan Ahmed should be available throughout after he was left out of England's T20 World Cup squad.Leicestershire's first Blast fixture is against Yorkshire on May 31. The tournament's group stage runs until July 19, with the quarter-finals and Finals Day due to take place in September.

Middlesex and Leicestershire's Vitality County Championship encounter ended in a tame draw due to persistent rain on the final day. The hosts, Middlesex, held a 101-run lead with two wickets remaining heading into the fourth day. However, the inclement weather that had marred the opening day returned with a vengeance, drenching the outfield and preventing any play.Umpires Paul Baldwin and Robert White patiently waited for the ground to recover, calling an early tea at 3:10 pm after an inspection at 2:35 pm. However, further downpours forced them to abandon the match at 3:25 pm.Middlesex earned 15 points from the draw, while Leicestershire collected 12. Both teams now have 68 points, six behind leaders Sussex. However, Middlesex holds the advantage in the standings due to a superior win-loss record.The draw was a disappointing end to a match that had promised much. Middlesex had posted a formidable 407 for 8 declared, thanks to centuries from Sam Robson (162) and Pieter du Plooy (131). Leicestershire responded with 306, with Peter Handscomb scoring a valiant 109.Middlesex's bowlers, led by Ethan Bamber's 4-68, had put the hosts in a strong position heading into the final day. However, the weather intervened, denying them the opportunity to secure a victory.

Middlesex's Sam Robson and Leus du Plooy dominated the first day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Leicestershire at Lord's, sharing a record-breaking third-wicket partnership to put the home side in a commanding position.Robson, returning from a thumb injury, top-scored with a meticulous 162, while Du Plooy struck 131 from 191 balls, his second century since joining Middlesex from Derbyshire. Their 252-run stand is the highest third-wicket partnership for Middlesex against Leicestershire.The Seaxes posted a formidable 407 for eight, giving them a first-innings lead of 101. Leicestershire's bowlers struggled to make inroads, with Ben Mike, Scott Currie, Ben Green, and Rehan Ahmed each picking up two wickets.However, with the first day washed out entirely and a gloomy weather forecast for Monday, a draw looks the most probable outcome.The visitors had doubled their overnight tally to two wickets in the first over of the day, but Robson and Du Plooy steadied the ship, accumulating runs steadily. Robson survived a scare on 39 when he was dropped by wicketkeeper Ben Cox, and went on to reach his half-century with a leg-glance off Tom Scriven.Du Plooy also reached his half-century, giving Green the charge and hoisting a short delivery into the Mound Stand for six. After lunch, Robson reached his century from 198 balls, while Du Plooy completed his ton despite being dropped on 84.The second new ball proved fruitful for the batters, who soon accelerated beyond Leicestershire's total of 306. Robson pulled Mike for two fours and a six before tea, but the Foxes bowlers finally began to make inroads during the final session.Du Plooy was first to depart, feathering one behind from Currie, and Ryan Higgins was bowled swinging at Green. Robson was also dismissed by Green, caught at backward point. Nathan Fernandes maintained Middlesex's momentum with a pugnacious 25-ball knock of 31, including sixes off Green and Rehan, but holed out to deep midwicket. Toby Roland-Jones also perished in pursuit of quick runs prior to bad light intervening.

Middlesex's hopes of a strong start to their Vitality County Championship campaign were dashed by a resilient Leicestershire side, led by Peter Handscomb's century at Lord's.After a rain-soaked opening day, Leicestershire stumbled to 83 for 4 before Handscomb, the former Middlesex skipper, steadied the ship with a patient and determined innings. He shared crucial partnerships with Rehan Ahmed (42) and Tom Scriven (46), guiding the visitors to a respectable total of 306.Middlesex's bowlers struggled to contain Handscomb, who reached his first century at Lord's in 304 minutes and 188 balls. The hosts also dropped both Handscomb and Rehan, which proved costly.Ethan Bamber emerged as the pick of the Middlesex attack, claiming 4 for 68. However, the hosts employed some unconventional field placements, allowing Leicestershire to accumulate runs through the vacant third area.In reply, Middlesex closed the day on 64 for 1, with Mark Stoneman the only wicket to fall. Sam Robson and Max Holden batted through to stumps, giving the hosts a glimmer of hope.The match was preceded by a poignant minute's silence in memory of Worcestershire spinner Josh Baker, who passed away tragically at the age of 20.

County cricket is facing a pivotal moment as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) prepares to sell equity stakes in the Hundred. Leicestershire's chief executive, Sean Jarvis, has raised concerns that the move could create a significant divide between the haves and have-nots in the sport, similar to the situation in English football.Despite Leicestershire's recent successes, including winning the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and topping Division Two of the County Championship, the club was overlooked for a Tier 1 team in the new women's competition from 2025. This decision has left Leicestershire as one of seven first-class teams that will not host international men's cricket, Hundred matches, or top-flight women's domestic games from next year onwards.Jarvis believes that this could have a detrimental impact on Leicestershire's ability to remain relevant in a rapidly changing game. He compares the situation to the Premier League's breakaway from the Football League in 1992, which led to a widening gap between the top clubs and the rest.The ECB's decision on the future of the Hundred is expected to further exacerbate this divide. Host venues are likely to receive a 51% equity share of their respective teams, while the remaining counties will share up to 30% of the competition's remaining value.Jarvis argues that the "Open Pyramid" option for the Hundred, which would allow all 18 counties to compete in a two-tiered structure with the prospect of promotion and relegation, should be considered. He believes that this would ensure that all clubs have the opportunity to win silverware and compete at the highest level.Despite the challenges, Jarvis recognizes that a major overhaul of Leicestershire's home ground, Grace Road, is overdue. He believes that the club's share of the Hundred windfall, combined with strategic partnerships, will allow Leicestershire to create a venue that can better serve the needs of its large sporting community.