LONDON — Somerset and Leicestershire kicked off their One-Day Cup campaigns in style, with both sides securing convincing victories on the opening day of the competition.
James Rew Shines for Somerset
Somerset's James Rew stole the spotlight with a magnificent century, scoring 106 off just 97 deliveries to guide his team to a comfortable win over Middlesex at Taunton. The 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter showcased his growing reputation with a composed innings, featuring 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Rew shared a crucial 132-run partnership with Lewis Goldsworthy (58) after Somerset had stumbled to 67/3. "I just tried to play my natural game and build partnerships," Rew said post-match. "The pitch was good, and once I got in, I wanted to make it count."
Middlesex Fall Short
Chasing Somerset's imposing total of 298/8, Middlesex never got going, losing wickets at regular intervals. Only Max Holden (64) offered significant resistance as the visitors were bowled out for 221 in 42.3 overs.
- Somerset's seamers shared the spoils, with Kasey Aldridge taking 3/42
- Shoaib Bashir impressed with 2/38 from his 10 overs
- Middlesex lost their last 5 wickets for just 28 runs
Leicestershire Dominate Surrey
At Grace Road, Leicestershire Foxes produced a stunning performance to thrash Surrey by 114 runs. After posting 319/8, they bowled out the visitors for just 205 in 38.2 overs.
The Foxes' innings was built around half-centuries from Rishi Patel (78), Louis Kimber (67) and skipper Lewis Hill (52). "We wanted to make a statement," Hill said. "The lads executed perfectly."
Surrey Collapse Under Pressure
Surrey's chase never gained momentum, with only Ben Geddes (56) passing fifty. The Foxes' bowling attack maintained relentless pressure throughout:
- Tom Scriven took 3/32 with his medium pace
- Chris Wright claimed 2/40 with the new ball
- Surrey lost 4 wickets in the powerplay
Other Notable Performances
Elsewhere in the competition, several players made strong starts to their One-Day Cup campaigns:
- Glamorgan's Kiran Carlson smashed 127 against Hampshire
- Nottinghamshire's Lyndon James took 4/39 versus Worcestershire
- Yorkshire's Matthew Revis scored 89* in a losing cause against Durham
Looking Ahead
With the tournament now underway, both Somerset and Leicestershire will look to build on their strong starts. Somerset face Kent next, while the Foxes travel to face Northamptonshire.
"It's a long competition," cautioned Somerset coach Jason Kerr. "We're pleased with the start but need to maintain this level throughout the group stage."
The One-Day Cup continues throughout August, with the final scheduled for September 16 at Trent Bridge. After several years of being overshadowed by The Hundred, this year's competition has attracted stronger squads as counties look to develop their white-ball talent.
With young stars like James Rew making an immediate impact and established players using the tournament to push for higher honours, the 2023 One-Day Cup promises to be one of the most competitive in recent years.