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

Scorekeeper

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

Cox came in with seven to score 51 off 59 balls in a chase of 236 that 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 ease the pressure with a useful 22 not out and hit the winning runs to get Leicestershire over the line.

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

In their first game since the T20 Blast quarter-final defeat to Northamptonshire Steelbacks, several batsmen made starts in the first innings for Gloucestershire but were unable to continue.

After finding themselves 0-1 in the first over with James Bracey trapped behind Ian Holland, Cameron Bancroft scored 40, while Ollie Price and Jack Taylor made 36 before being dismissed.

Alex Green (3-53), Ajaz Patel (2-32), Holland (2-36) and Ben Green (2-54) contributed 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 recover to take them to 235 all out.

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