One-Day Cup Group A, Kibworth

Gloucestershire 235 (49 overs): Bancroft 40; A Green 3-53

Leicestershire Foxes 239-8 (48.2 overs): Cox 51; Van Buuren 2-42

Leicestershire Foxes beat Gloucestershire by two wickets

Scorecard

Ben Cox’s half-century helped Leicestershire Foxes begin their One-Day Cup campaign with a two-wicket victory over Gloucestershire.

Cox came in at seven to score 51 from 59 balls in a chase of 236 which had briefly threatened to unravel when Ruan de Swardt (42) and Ben Green (1) fell to leave the Foxes 194-7 with nine overs remaining.

But Ajaz Patel helped relieve the pressure with a useful 22 not out and hit the winning runs to see Leicestershire over the line.

Rishi Patel (39) and Hamza Shaikh (33) had earlier made decent contributions for 2023 champions Leicestershire.

In their first game since a T20 Blast quarter-final defeat to Northamptonshire Steelbacks, several batters made starts in the first innings for Gloucestershire but could not kick on.

After finding themselves 0-1 in the first over with James Bracey caught behind off Ian Holland, Cameron Bancroft hit 40, while Ollie Price and Jack Taylor both made 36 before they were dismissed.

Alex Green (3-53), Ajaz Patel (2-32), Holland (2-36) and Ben Green (2-54) all chipped in with regular wickets to reduce Gloucestershire to 192-9 in the 40th over.

A 43-run partnership between Daz Ahmed (30) and Will Williams (14*) helped Gloucestershire make a recovery of sorts to push them up to 235 all out.

But despite a few nervy moments and 2-43 for Gloucestershire’s Graeme van Buuren, it was Leicestershire who edged over the line with nine balls to spare.