By Grockle
August 2 2026

Back to Leicester for the first time in a long time and for the first of two visitst this summer (CC1 game in September).  Somerset look to get back to winning ways today going with the extra bowler and resting James Theedom and Theo Lamey to do so.  Somerset have won the toss and will bowl first at Grace Road.

Metrobank Game 5 - v Leicestershire @ Grace Road Sunday 2 August 2026

Somerset arrive in the Midlands off the back of a loss in Canterbury on Friday and seem to have re-assessed the situation with a change to their emphasis in the side for today;

Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy (c), Thomas, Connell, Church (wk), Pretorius, Shaw, Langridge, Ball

Today they rest their young all rounder Theo Lamey and their young bowler James Theedom and return to a bigger seam attack with both Jake Ball and JT Langridge being called back into the elven after the assessment that they were a seam bowler short at Kent.

Lewis won the toss and has decided to chase today.  This is semi unfamiliar terrain for the WQest country lads as the Foxes have not been regular opposition for a while.  We did win here in a QF in 2024 but they have beaten us at Taunton last time they were there and it willnot be easy to get the win here today.

Steve Ezkinazi and Rishi Patel will open against Josh Shaw who produces a good first one going for only 1.  Migael will take the other new ball opening spot and he gets the Leicestershire skipper as the ball goes away from Ezkanazi who edges to Church.  The Foxes are 1 for 1 after 7 balls.  In comes Ben Mike very early who scored 71 against Northants in the home side's last outing. Miggy seems to have got his line right straight up as he delivers two peaches to the new bat which both go past his outside edge.  The second over is a very promising wicket maiden from the South African 1 for 1 after 2.

Patel finally faces a ball in the third and he is finding the job no easier than his team mates as Josh gets steepling bounce.  He finally comes down the track and sends the ball through the infield for 3 as Sav catches it near the rope on the very big outfield.  The commentators say it is the biggest playing area in the counties now.

Miggy is on fire though as he gets Patel with a back pad LBW to the fifth ball of his second at 6 for 2.  He goes for 4 and it brings Hamza Shaikh to the crease against a bowler who has 2 for 2 from 11 balls.  After 4 overs the home side are 6 for 2.  The commentators think the decision was a bit doubtful on the quetion of height but it is still 'in the book'.

Shaw has a decent delivery that veers massively after the stumps and Church only gets a glove to one that goes for 4 byes - no one's fault but real movement.  Grace Road has a decent crowd for this Sunday fixture.  It is partly based on the Leicestershire initiative of letting kids in for free with paying adults - great idea from a club that seems to get their crowd economics right most of the time.

After 5 overs the bowlers have lots to feel satisfied by and Leicester have 11 for 2.  We need to remember that a certain Ben Green will be batting in this game against his former club.  Mike finally gets the runs going with a drive to the boundary in the 7th off Shaw who then gets the final word as he nips one back to take out Mike's middle stump for 9 off 15.  The is Josh's first wicket in this competition it seems - surprised me I have to say as he has bowled quite extensively in these (yep - incorrect by the Foxes commentators - he definitely got wickets against his last club I believe - 2 in 2 balls in fact).

18 for 3 in the 7th brings Nick Kelly to the crease and he takes a single off his first ball and that's it for the over at 19 for 3.  Kelly gets a bit more of a sight in the Pretorius fourth as he hits him for 2 fours and gets a free hit as well so the Somerset bowler's 2 for 3 becomes 2 for 14 as the Foxes move to 30 for 3

Josh is doing well with 12 for 1 off his first five overs - another maiden over as we hold the home side in a decent 'vice'.  Pretorius finishes the 'Powerplay' and he has Kelly struggling to get bat on another absolute 'jaffa'.  He is bowling gold presently as the pressure continues.  Kelly comes back with a sumptuous drive for four but he is fighting to stay there.

After 10 overs Leicestershire have 34 for 3 and we wonder if there will be bowling changes after this first 10 onslaught?  Shaw will continue with a 6th and Shaikh finally gets off the mark after 20 balls with a single through the covers but the Somerset man is not letting up.  We also keep Miggy on to try and remove Kelly who seems to be the only bat capable presently of driving the opening bowling attack.  40 for 3 after 12.

The bowling change comes with the 13th as JT starts his work for the morning with a tight 2 runs off his first.  He is joined by Jake Ball as a double change in the 14th.  Kelly takes a liking to his second and sends a short wide one for four.  Other than that its a tight start for 5 as the Foxes are struggling to get past 50.

They finally move past 50 with a straight drive for four from Kelly off the 3rd ball of the 15th.  57 for 3 as he hooks the next to register back to back boundaries despite outfield heroics from Jake as they take 11 off Langridge's second.

Metrobank Game 5 - Chasing Foxes again

Discussion started by Grockles.com , 02/08/2026 10:53

Grockles.com
02/08/2026 10:53

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Grockle
01/08/2026 18:17

Another away game after the loss in Canterbury on Friday;

Sunday Preview


The squad for tomorrow holds few surprises;
Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy, Thomas, Connell, Church, Lamey, Pretorius, Shaw, Theedom, Langridge, Ball

The only questions are 1) Where is Jack Leach? 2) Which seam bowlers will play and which will be rested? The bats will all play if possible one would assume.

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GuildfordWyvern
01/08/2026 18:46

1) Playing for Taunton Deane

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Grockle
01/08/2026 21:39

Wonder why that is? As Dan Kingdom pointed out, he played all 10 games in the Metrobank last season and then was very ver y important to us in the CC1 run in. He's hardly been featured at any level of consistency this season. Yet he seems fit to play

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Grockle
02/08/2026 10:40

Seems we go with the extra bowler today.
Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy, Thomas, Connell, Church, Pretorius, Shaw, Langridge, Ball

We win the toss and will bowl first





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:08:02:11:01:12 by Grockle.

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