Leicestershire and Middlesex Book One-Day Cup Final Places

Leicestershire and Middlesex have secured places in the One-Day Cup final after contrasting semi-final victories over Nottinghamshire and Durham. The Guardian reports that the two finalists will meet at Trent Bridge in September, with Leicestershire earning their place through a successful defence and Middlesex completing a recovery in a demanding chase.

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Leicestershire set Nottinghamshire 304 to win at Grace Road after making 303 for seven. Hamza Shaikh, the 20-year-old who recently joined from Warwickshire, scored a century, while the other members of the top seven also contributed. That collective batting effort gave the hosts a total their bowlers could defend as Nottinghamshire attempted to reach a final at their home ground.

Teenage academy product Alex Green made a decisive impact after entering the attack as third change. Green removed Kyle Verreynne as Nottinghamshire were beginning to build their pursuit, and the visitors were eventually bowled out 24 runs short of the target. The result sent Leicestershire into the final and ended Nottinghamshire's One-Day Cup campaign.

Middlesex's route was more precarious. Durham posted 254 for seven, with Will Rhodes making 80 and David Bedingham and Ollie Robinson also among the wickets taken by Luke Hollman. Ben Stokes then helped Durham's attack make regular breakthroughs, leaving Middlesex seven wickets down with another 100 runs required.

Hollman led the response with support from Tom Helm. According to The Guardian's account, the pair absorbed Durham's better deliveries and attacked scoring opportunities, gradually reducing the requirement. Helm made an important 40 before he was dismissed, leaving Hollman to manage the strike alongside Noah Cornwell and finish the chase. Hollman, who had already contributed with the ball, hit the winning runs.

The final therefore brings together a Leicestershire side whose semi-final win was built on Shaikh's hundred and a balanced batting card, and a Middlesex team rescued from a difficult position by Hollman's all-round display. The confirmed venue is Trent Bridge, where the two counties are scheduled to contest the trophy next month.