Leicestershire Crush Surrey by 6 Wickets in One-Day Cup 2025

A glorious summer day at Woodbridge Road, Guildford, on August 6, 2025, and Leicestershire kicked off the 2025 One-Day Cup Group A with a thumping six-wicket win over Surrey, chasing down 175 with 123 balls to spare. The match was a masterclass in all-round cricket from Leicestershire, who first bowled out Surrey for a measly 174 in 43.1 overs before their batsmen made the target look like a walk in the park.

Surrey’s Innings

Surrey’s batting was a tale of early jitters, a brief moment of hope, and a late collapse, leaving them with just 174 runs in 43.1 overs at a run rate of 4.03. Leicestershire captain Lewis Hill won the toss and chose to bowl, a call that proved spot-on as his seamers, Alex Green and Ian Holland, tore into Surrey’s top order on a pitch with a bit of zip. With many of Surrey’s senior players tied up in The Hundred, their young lineup showed some spark but didn’t have the know-how to build a big score. Things started badly for Surrey. Rory Burns, their seasoned opener, was gone for just 3 in the third over.

Sykesy goes BIG! 💥

Out of the park, into the trees, and back in the ground. 🔄

Surrey 111/3 after 24 overs.

🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/EqXw9B5Rb7

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 6, 2025

Ian Holland, bowling with real control, got one to nibble away, and Peter Handscomb snaffled the edge at slip. Surrey were 10 for 1, and the tone was set, cautious and nervy. Adam Thomas, coming in at number three, couldn’t get comfortable against Leicestershire’s tight bowling. He scratched out 6 runs off 13 balls before Holland struck again in the ninth over, pinning him lbw with a ball that jagged back and hit the pads. The umpire didn’t hesitate, and Surrey were wobbling at 32 for 2.

Ben Foakes, the wicketkeeper-batsman and one of Surrey’s main hopes, came in looking to steady things, but he was undone by Alex Green’s pace. Foakes managed just 5 runs off 10 balls before nicking a rising ball to keeper Ben Cox in the 12th over. At 43 for 3, Surrey were in a hole, with Leicestershire’s bowlers making the most of the conditions. Green and Holland kept things tight, barely giving the batsmen room to breathe, and the pitch’s early movement only made life tougher.

A bit of fight came from captain Ryan Patel and Ollie Sykes, who put on 68 runs for the fourth wicket to give Surrey a lifeline. Patel played with real guts, carving out 53 off 67 balls with seven clean boundaries. His drives and cuts, especially through cover and point, showed his class on a tough track. Sykes, at number five, kept pace with a smooth 50 off 64 balls, including four fours and a huge six over midwicket. Their partnership, which took Surrey to 111 in the 25th over, was the high point of the innings. They played smart, picking singles and pouncing on anything loose, making it seem like Surrey might push toward 250.

But the game turned in the 25th over when Rishi Patel got Ryan Patel to chip a soft catch back to him. Patel’s exit for 53 was a gut punch, leaving Surrey at 111 for 4. What followed was a collapse that ripped through the middle order. Ollie Sykes was next to go, caught by Chris Wright off Green for 50, undone by a ball that climbed on him. Cameron Steel, who was supposed to hold things together, faced one ball and edged Green to Cox for a golden duck. By the 30th over, Surrey were 131 for 6, and their hopes of a decent total were crumbling.

The tail didn’t put up much of a fight. James Taylor hung around for 2 runs off 10 balls before Green had him caught by Handscomb. Nathan Barnwell was bowled by Holland for 2, cleaned up by a full ball that rattled the stumps. Josh Blake, batting at six, showed some grit with 31 off 43 balls, hitting three boundaries. He kept Surrey ticking over for a bit, but he had no backup. Yousef Majid crawled to 14 off 32 balls before Holland got him, caught by Cox, as Surrey slumped to 160 for 9. Blake was the last man out, caught by Holland off Green in the 44th over, as Surrey folded for 174.

Surrey are all out for 174 at Guildford.

Fifties for Ryan Patel and Ollie Sykes, with Josh Blake scoring 31.

🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/zhAEF444Rb

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 6, 2025

Leicestershire’s bowling was razor-sharp, with Alex Green stealing the show. He took 5 for 25 in 7.1 overs, getting Foakes, Sykes, Steel, Taylor, and Blake with a mix of swing and bounce. Ian Holland was just as good, finishing with 4 for 37 in 10 overs, taking out Burns, Thomas, Barnwell, and Majid with his nagging accuracy. Rishi Patel chipped in with 1 for 29, while Chris Wright (0 for 33), Tom Scriven (0 for 30), and Liam Trevaskis (0 for 16) kept things tight, making sure Surrey couldn’t get away. Leicestershire gave away just 8 extras, including 4 wides, showing their discipline. Surrey’s total, way below the ground’s average first-innings score of about 244, left them with a massive task to defend.

Leicestershire’s Innings

Leicestershire’s chase of 175 was a breeze, as they knocked off the runs in just 29.3 overs at a run rate of 6.06, losing only four wickets. Their batsmen mixed firepower with cool-headed finishing to make Surrey’s bowlers look ordinary, sealing a victory that showed just how good they were. The chase started with a bang, thanks to Rishi Patel and Sol Budinger, who smashed 69 runs in 8.2 overs. Budinger was on fire, blasting 36 off 21 balls with six fours and a monster six.

"That is a sensational catch!" ✈️

🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/A7mapLhsPP pic.twitter.com/kIXRBwCUts

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 6, 2025

His shots, like a lofted cover drive and a huge six over midwicket, had the crowd buzzing and put Surrey’s bowlers on the back foot. Alex French, making his debut, took the brunt of it, leaking runs as Budinger hammered anything short or wide. His blistering knock ended when he skied one to Cameron Steel off French, but his 36 had already put Leicestershire in the driver’s seat.

Rishi Patel played second fiddle, scoring a steady 29 off 34 balls with four fours and a six. His clean drives and solid footwork kept things moving, but Yousef Majid got him in the 10th over, trapping him lbw with a ball that skidded through. At 77 for 2, Leicestershire were in a great spot, needing less than 100 runs at a gentle pace. Shan Masood, the Pakistan Test captain, came in and played a cracking cameo, smashing 27 off 21 balls with two fours and two sixes. His pulled six off Majid was pure class, but Majid got his revenge in the 16th over, taking a sharp return catch to leave Leicestershire at 108 for 3.

Lewis Hill, Leicestershire’s captain, came in to steady the ship, making 20 off 33 balls with one boundary. His job was to keep things calm, but Cameron Steel dismissed him in the 21st over, catching a return chance to leave Leicestershire at 122 for 4. With 53 runs needed, Peter Handscomb and Ben Cox took over. Handscomb, the experienced Aussie, stayed not out on 23 off 32 balls, playing with a cool head and picking gaps with ease. Cox, though, was the star, finishing unbeaten on 38 off 36 balls with a boundary and three sixes. His lofted cover drive and a six over long-on were crowd-pleasers, and he sealed the win in the 30th over with a crisp drive.

Defeat by 6 wickets at Guildford.

Well played, @leicsccc. 🤝

🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/2b727BFYTV

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 6, 2025

Surrey’s bowling never looked like defending 174. Yousef Majid was their best, taking 2 for 54 in 10 overs, getting Patel and Masood with some clever changes of pace. Cameron Steel nabbed Hill’s wicket, finishing with 1 for 42, while Alex French got Budinger but went for 26 runs in two overs. James Taylor (0 for 30), Ryan Patel (0 for 10), and Ollie Sykes (0 for 17) couldn’t keep things tight, and their loose balls were dispatched with ease. Six extras, all wides, didn’t help, but Leicestershire’s batsmen were in total control, keeping the run rate healthy from start to finish.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Ian Holland’s bowling was the defining moment of the match, earning him TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game. He bowled 10 overs of pure class, finishing with 4 for 37 at an economy of 3.70. His spell included 40 dot balls, showing how he kept Surrey’s batsmen on a leash.

𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗬 𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗢 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥! 🇳🇱

SUR 173/9 (42)#Foxes🦊 pic.twitter.com/NHs7TVcaZ9

— Leicestershire Foxes 🦊 (@leicsccc) August 6, 2025

Holland struck early, getting Rory Burns for 3 in the third over, and later took out Adam Thomas, Nathan Barnwell, and Yousef Majid, breaking partnerships at crucial moments. His maiden over and smart changes in length and pace kept Surrey guessing, and they collapsed to 174 in 43.1 overs. Holland’s effort was the foundation of Leicestershire’s big win.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Sol Budinger was TCNI’s Hero of the Day for his electric start to Leicestershire’s chase. The opener smashed 36 runs off 21 balls, going at a strike rate of 171.42 with six fours and a massive six. His 35-minute blitz, including a lofted cover drive and a huge six over midwicket, tore into Surrey’s bowlers, especially Alex French and James Taylor.

𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 🤜 🤛

Patel (27*) and Budinger (26*) have been superb so far. 👏

LEI 55/0 (7)#Foxes🦊 pic.twitter.com/ExdAfDIWR0

— Leicestershire Foxes 🦊 (@leicsccc) August 6, 2025

Budinger’s knock powered Leicestershire to 69 runs in 8.2 overs, setting up the chase perfectly. Even though he got out early, his fearless approach swung the game Leicestershire’s way, paving the road for their six-wicket win in 29.3 overs.