After being reduced to 19 for 4 by Hampshire,
Leicestershire put up an incredible display to win the Metro Bank One-Day Cup
final, coming back from the verge of failure to win by two runs off the very
last ball.
There are numerous dimensions to their accomplishment.
The county had not won a List A trophy since 1985, nor had they won a trophy in
its whole since winning the T20 Blast in 2011, which was also their previous
time competing in any kind of final. A much-maligned club, however, was
propelled to success by hometown heroes. This club was frequently the first to
be suggested for the chopping during the yearly idle discussions about reducing
the county cricket fat.
With his first List A century, Harry Swindells led the
comeback, bringing an innings from 89 for 6 to 267 for 7 with a powerful 117
not out. The foundation of that rebuilding effort was a 151-run stand with Sam
Evans, whose personal 60 in his sixth appearance in this format was also a
career-best.
Swindells and Evans were raised in Leicester and went
through Grace Road’s age-group programme. Josh Hull, a 19-year-old fellow
academy graduate, kept his composure to defend eight off the penultimate over,
including dismissing Liam Dawson for 57, just as it appeared the England
allrounder was going to lead his team to victory.
Under cloudy conditions, Keith Barker, the principal
new-ball destroyer, had the chance to complete what he had begun by taking
three of the first four Leicestershire wickets inside of 40 deliveries.
However, he was only able to work a low full toss from Hull to midwicket when
four runs were needed off the penultimate ball. Tom Prest was the first prized
victim of Hull’s quick, 86 mph bowling, albeit occasionally wayward. Hull
concluded with 2 for 75, with Tom Prest being taken out for 51.
Few games highlight the gap in domestic cricket quite
like these two sides do under normal circumstances. However, a contest against
the men’s Hundred halved the gap, and both teams stuck with the athletes that
qualified for the Trent Bridge final.
Hampshire will have plenty to rue. Even after
they square conceding as many as they did after such a dominant start, numerous
opportunities to stamp their authority on their chase of 268 were spurned.
Whatever your opinion on this particular one-day cup
may be, days like these, especially when they mix your heart and stomach, leave
you with very memorable memories. The style of this triumph and the newfound
vigour they gave to a proud county will not be forgotten for a set of players
who haven’t had many, especially those like Swindells who feel their days in
the professional game are numbered.