Cricket

Victoria's batting lineup faced a stern test on the opening day of their Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales at the MCG, with Sean Abbott's exceptional bowling performance putting the Blues in a commanding position.Abbott, who is vying for a spot in Australia's Test squad, claimed four wickets for 50 runs, including a devastating spell after tea that yielded three wickets in 15 balls. His sustained fast bowling kept the Victorian batsmen on edge throughout the day.Peter Handscomb and Campbell Kellaway provided some resistance for Victoria, scoring half-centuries in challenging conditions. However, Mitchell Starc's impressive morning spell, which included a nasty blow to Marcus Harris's arm, set the tone for NSW's dominance.Harris, who batted the entire first session, was unable to capitalize on his start and was eventually dismissed by Starc for 26. The left-armer's extra pace and bounce proved too much for Harris, who was caught down the leg side.Kellaway and Handscomb shared a century stand, but their partnership was broken by Jackson Bird's off-cutter, which dismissed Kellaway for 55. Abbott then returned to wreak havoc, removing Handscomb, Sam Harper, and Will Sutherland in quick succession.Victoria's collapse continued as Nathan Lyon had Sam Elliott caught at short leg, leaving the home side reeling at 185 for 7. Tom Rogers and Fergus O'Neill mounted a brief rearguard, but O'Neill's dismissal late in the day left Victoria in a precarious position.Jack Nisbet picked up a second wicket when he had Todd Murphy caught behind, leaving Victoria on 259 for 9 at stumps. Abbott's outstanding performance has put NSW in a strong position heading into day two, while Victoria will need to find a way to rebuild their innings and avoid a heavy defeat.

Victoria's Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb have showcased their batting prowess with twin centuries against Tasmania on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield season. Harris, with 143 runs, and Handscomb, with 129 runs, put together a formidable 239-run partnership, propelling Victoria to a strong position of 330 for 7 at stumps.Harris, known for his affinity with the Junction Oval, displayed his class with a fluent innings, driving and cutting the ball with precision. Handscomb, continuing his impressive form from the county championship, provided a steady presence, allowing Harris to flourish.However, Tasmania's bowlers fought back late in the day, with Gabe Bell claiming three wickets, including Harris' dismissal. Beau Webster and Brad Hope also contributed with wickets, leaving the game evenly poised.Harris' century serves as a timely reminder of his Test credentials, with Cameron Green's availability for the upcoming series against India uncertain. Handscomb, while less likely to be considered for the Test series, has strengthened his case for a spot on the tour of Sri Lanka in January-February.The match highlights the depth of batting talent in Australia, with both Harris and Handscomb demonstrating their ability to score big runs in challenging conditions. As the Sheffield Shield season progresses, the competition for Test selection will intensify, and these performances will undoubtedly be closely monitored by the national selectors.

Leicestershire's resilience and Peter Handscomb's resolute half-century thwarted Gloucestershire's valiant attempt to secure victory on the final day of their County Championship Division Two encounter at Bristol.Resuming on 41 without loss, Leicestershire's openers, Rishi Patel and Ian Holland, extended their partnership to 142, with Patel reaching a composed half-century. However, his attempt to repeat his six-hitting heroics proved costly, as he was caught on the boundary.Despite the setback, Holland and Lewis Hill continued to chip away at Gloucestershire's lead. However, Hill's dismissal and Ajinkya Rahane's unfortunate catch off Zaman Akhter raised Gloucestershire's hopes. Holland's painstaking half-century was also cut short by Akhter's brilliance.With Leicestershire 180 for 4, Handscomb and Rehan Ahmed steadied the ship with a 63-run stand. Ahmed's departure brought Louis Kimber to the crease, who joined Handscomb in a composed partnership.Handscomb reached an untroubled half-century, guiding Leicestershire to a comfortable position. The final session saw Handscomb and Kimber remain unfazed, despite Price's slow turn. With the floodlights illuminating the ground, the umpires deemed the light insufficient, ending the match with Leicestershire on 304 for 5.The draw was a fair reflection of the placid Bristol pitch, which offered little assistance to bowlers throughout the four-day contest. Gloucestershire earned 16 points from the game, while Leicestershire secured 13.

Somerset's Lewis Goldsworthy starred with a career-best 115 not out as they secured a 23-run victory over Leicestershire Foxes in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-final at Taunton.Goldsworthy's brilliant 86-ball knock, featuring five sixes and six fours, propelled Somerset to a formidable 334 for 4 after they were put in to bat. James Rew (71) and Andy Umeed (57) also made significant contributions.Leicestershire's chase was anchored by Peter Handscomb's 111 off 86 balls, but they ultimately fell short, finishing on 311 for 9. Ben Cox (49) provided support, but Somerset's bowlers, led by Ben Green's 3-63, kept the Foxes at bay.Somerset's openers, Umeed and George Thomas, laid a solid foundation with a 91-run stand. However, Thomas departed for 47, and Umeed followed for 57. Goldsworthy and Rew then took control, accelerating the scoring rate and putting on 120 runs for the third wicket.Goldsworthy reached his century off 79 deliveries and continued to punish the Leicestershire bowlers, while Rew contributed a valuable 71 before being caught on the boundary. Skipper Sean Dickson and Green added quickfire cameos to boost Somerset's total.Leicestershire's reply began promisingly with Sol Budinger and Ian Holland putting on 54. However, Budinger's dismissal triggered a collapse, with Green removing Lewis Hill and Holland in quick succession. Ajinkya Rahane's departure left Leicestershire reeling at 106 for 4.Handscomb kept the chase alive with a superb century, but Somerset's bowlers maintained the pressure. Aldridge's economical spell and wickets of Cox, Kimber, and Trevaskis proved crucial. Handscomb's dismissal with 42 runs still needed effectively ended Leicestershire's hopes.Somerset will now face Glamorgan in the final at Trent Bridge on September 22, aiming to lift the One-Day Cup for the first time since 2019.

Leicestershire Foxes, the reigning Metro Bank One-Day Cup champions, edged past Hampshire by a thrilling three-wicket margin in a repeat of last year's final. The match, played at the Uptonsteel County Ground, saw a nail-biting finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.Hampshire skipper Nick Gubbins led the charge for his team, scoring a magnificent 136 runs. Liam Dawson contributed a valuable 50, while Dominic Kelly's quickfire 39 off just 20 balls helped Hampshire post a competitive total of 290 for 8 from their 50 overs.Leicestershire's bowlers, led by Tom Scriven (3 for 61) and Chris Wright (2 for 49), kept the Hampshire batsmen in check, preventing them from reaching a higher score.In reply, Leicestershire's star duo of Peter Handscomb (74) and Ajinkya Rahane (70) formed a formidable partnership, sharing a 128-run stand for the fourth wicket. Their partnership kept Leicestershire in the hunt, but once they were dismissed, Hampshire sensed an opportunity to avenge their defeat in last season's final.John Turner emerged as Hampshire's bowling hero, taking 4 for 44. However, Liam Trevaskis (60* off 55 balls) and Ben Cox (45 off 50) put up a valiant fight for Leicestershire, adding 94 runs for the seventh wicket. Trevaskis' two sixes and four fours proved crucial in the chase.With just one ball remaining, Scriven hit the winning run, securing a thrilling victory for Leicestershire. The Foxes have now advanced to the next round of the competition, one step closer to retaining their title.

Leicestershire Foxes secured a thrilling four-wicket victory over Gloucestershire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, booking their place in the quarter-finals. Chasing a revised target of 196 in a rain-affected match, the Foxes rode on a match-winning partnership of 120 between Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb.Rahane, who has been in impressive form this season, scored a composed 62 off 76 balls, while Handscomb remained unbeaten on 65 from 70 deliveries. The Australian all-rounder hit five fours and two sixes, showcasing his class and experience.Leicestershire's victory was set up by a disciplined bowling performance. Tom Scriven led the way with 3 for 37, while Liam Trevaskis and Alex Green claimed two wickets each. Gloucestershire struggled to build partnerships, with Cameron Bancroft's 36 being the highest individual score.Gloucestershire's bowlers made an early impact, reducing Leicestershire to 19 for 3. However, Rahane and Handscomb steadied the ship, gradually building their partnership and putting pressure on the home side.Rahane reached his half-century first, while Handscomb followed suit shortly after. The pair punished loose deliveries and took advantage of Gloucestershire's lack of seam options.Rahane's innings came to an end when he was caught at short extra cover off the bowling of Ben Smith. However, Louis Kimber's quickfire 28, including three sixes and a four, ensured that Leicestershire remained in control.With 14 balls to spare, Handscomb hit the winning runs, securing a memorable victory for the Foxes. They will now host Hampshire in the quarter-finals at Grace Road on Friday.

Leicestershire's hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup received a major boost as they defeated previously unbeaten Glamorgan by nine runs. Australian international Peter Handscomb played a pivotal role in the victory, rescuing Leicestershire from a precarious position with a superb century.Chasing a target of 272, Glamorgan's pursuit was hampered by the loss of both openers in the first nine overs. Colin Ingram's top score of 68 kept the Welsh side in contention, but a career-best 61 from Dan Douthwaite ultimately proved insufficient.Leicestershire's innings had also been far from straightforward. After losing five wickets for just 59 runs, Handscomb and Liam Trevaskis combined for a crucial 103-run partnership. Handscomb's 103 off 91 balls proved to be the backbone of Leicestershire's total, while Trevaskis contributed 47 with the bat and 4 for 54 with the ball.Glamorgan's hopes were dealt a significant blow when Ingram was dismissed by Trevaskis with 75 runs still required. Douthwaite's valiant effort kept the contest alive, but Roman Walker's three wickets in quick succession sealed the victory for Leicestershire.The result leaves Leicestershire on 10 points, one behind Glamorgan and Warwickshire. Both Glamorgan and Warwickshire have already secured quarter-final berths, while Leicestershire's fate will be determined in their final group match against Gloucestershire.

Leicestershire Foxes continued their impressive run in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, securing a thrilling 10-run victory over Sussex Sharks at Hove. The Foxes' total of 363 for 7 proved just enough to hold off a valiant Sussex chase that fell just short.Australia's Peter Handscomb led the way for Leicestershire with a magnificent 119 from 80 deliveries, anchoring the innings and setting the platform for a formidable total. Sol Budinger (84) and Ian Holland (65) provided solid support at the top of the order, while Ajinkya Rahane contributed a valuable 68.Sussex, who had struggled for runs in previous matches, showed remarkable resilience in their pursuit of the target. Tom Haines (129) and John Simpson (85) forged a crucial 131-run partnership that brought Sussex within striking distance. Haines, in particular, played a blistering knock, hitting successive sixes off Liam Trevaskis on his way to his second List A century.However, the Foxes' bowlers managed to stem the flow of runs in the closing stages, with Ben Mike claiming the key wickets of Haines and Simpson. Despite a late surge from Sussex, Leicestershire held on for a hard-fought victory.The match was a testament to the depth and quality of both sides. Leicestershire's batting lineup proved too strong for Sussex, while the Sharks' bowlers showed great determination in their chase. The result leaves Leicestershire with three wins from four matches, while Sussex remain winless after five games.

Sussex extended their lead over Leicestershire to 233 runs at the close of day two of their Vitality County Championship clash at Hove.Peter Handscomb continued his impressive form with a well-crafted 92, but Leicestershire's hopes of a competitive total were dashed by a late collapse, with left-armer Sean Hunt claiming four wickets in quick succession.Sussex, who had declared on 442, opted not to enforce the follow-on and lost two early wickets before stumps, leaving them on 66 for 2.Handscomb's innings was the cornerstone of Leicestershire's first-innings effort. The Australian opener shared a century stand with Wiaan Mulder (53) and looked set for a hundred of his own before falling to Hudson-Prentice.However, Hunt's introduction proved decisive. The left-armer removed Mulder, Louis Kimber, and Ben Mike in quick succession, before John Simpson took a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Scott Currie. Hunt completed his four-wicket haul by trapping Josh Hull leg before.Sussex's bowlers had earlier wrapped up the Foxes' first innings for 275. Ollie Robinson claimed three wickets, including the key scalp of Ian Holland, while Hunt finished with 4 for 70.In their second innings, Sussex lost Oli Carter and nightwatchman Jack Carson before the close. However, they remain in a strong position, with a substantial lead and two days remaining in the match.