Report & Reaction: Hampshire Men v Leicestershire Foxes, Metro Bank One Day Cup

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Ali Orr’s first List A century for three years made sure Hampshire got their Metro Bank One-Day revenge on Leicestershire Foxes with a seven-wicket mauling.

The Foxes beat Hampshire in the 2023 final, having also beaten them in the Group Stage that year, before knocking them out in the quarter-final last season.

Kyle Abbott’s three wickets kept the hosts down to 252 – despite fifties for Sol Budinger, Shan Masood, and Ben Cox.

Before Orr and Nick Gubbins – who now has 325 runs in the competition with 81 here – made light work of the chase. The opening duo put on 202 and raced to the winning line with more than six overs to spare.

 The only moment of worry came for Orr when he chopped onto his stumps, but didn’t dislodge the bails.

Otherwise, it was a steady accumulation of risk-free batting, progressing through 59 and 67 ball fifties – the former for Gubbins going with his 144 not out, 40 and 60 in his other three One-Day Cup innings.

Since arriving from Sussex at the start of last year, Orr has been beset by injuries – most notably a broken arm.

He was finally able to add to the Rothesay County Championship hundred he scored against Durham with effortless grace. His second for his new county coming in 126 balls and celebrated with gusto.

Gubbins fell to a great diving catch by Budinger, Orr was lbw for 131 with five to win and Brandon McMullen was bowled, but the damage had been done.

Earlier, Abbott was mesmerically accurate throughout and found the early breakthrough when former team-mate Ian Holland push behind and was stunningly caught by Ben Mayes in the first over.

The Abbott and Mayes combination also brought the downfall of Lewis Hill – attempting to charge a bouncer.

But Budinger aggressively countered, and with Masood built the foundations the Foxes planned for having won the toss.

On the back of a century against ex-employers Nottinghamshire Outlaws, Budinger oozed class in his 41-ball fifty but he started a trend of reaching a half-century but not kicking on.

He tickled Felix Organ behind to end a 75-run stand, before Peter Handscomb loosely drove to extra cover.

Masood watchfully passed his 52nd List A fifty but unwatchfully ran himself out for 57, with Ben Cox keeping him company for his own 55.

But after the pair had put on 63, the visitors struggled to build partnerships and rather tiptoed to 252.

Having dismissed Handscomb, Andrew Neal also had Liam Trevaskis slogging to deep midwicket to take an impressive two for 43.

Brad Wheal chipped in with two wickets on his return from injury, Abbott ended with three for 36 and Mayes – for the second time in the competition – four catches with the gloves, as Hampshire ended strongly.

They carried that momentum into their batting as Orr and Gubbins clinically ticked the runs off.