National Cricket League

Leicestershire versus Yorkshire

at Grace Road, Leicester

Sunday 18 May 2025

By Roy D Wilkinson


Yorkshire have completed thirty-six matches versus Leicestershire in this competition since its inception in 1969. Yorkshire have won 19, lost 16 and one has ended in a tie. In addition there have been two ‘no results’.

Of the matches at Leicester, Yorkshire have won 6, lost 9 with one tie and one no result.

Behind these bald facts lie some very close finishes.

Yorkshire’s first visit, in 1970, saw them win by just 1 run. Needing three to win off the very last ball of the innings Leicestershire could manage only a single. That Yorkshire made 182 for 7 wkts in their 40 overs was due, in the main, to a partnership of 114 for the second wicket between Doug Padgett (45) and Philip Sharpe (60). Chris Old then took four wickets in four overs to leave Leicestershire struggling at 22 for 4. The Leicestershire captain, Raymond Illingworth, then took a hand and, with a brave 79, put on 89 with opener Barry Dudleston. It was almost enough but Yorkshire held their nerve and a thrilling finish saw them home by the slenderest of margins.

In 1982 the tables were turned and it was Leicestershire who won by 1 run. After reducing them
to 169 for 9 off their 40 overs, with Stephen Stuchbury’s left-arm medium taking 5 for 16 in his eight overs, Yorkshire made hard work of their reply and were always behind the rate. As in 1970, three were needed off the last ball, but Arnie Sidebottom could manage only a leg-bye and so the narrowest of victories went to the home team.

If these two matches were as close as possible to a positive result even closer was to come in 1997 when the match ended in a tie - one of only three by Yorkshire in this competition. Leicestershire made 298 for 9 wkts in their 40 overs with James Whitaker making 66 and Darren Maddy a quick-fire 70. Yorkshire faced the daunting prospect of making their highest 40-over score in this competition (they had made 318 for 7 also versus Leicestershire in 1993 when the competition was based on 50-overs per side).

Craig White was in sparkling form and scored 148, the highest for Yorkshire in 40-overs cricket, but the last over was reached with the score 294 for 6. Five to win off six balls with 4 wickets in hand. Odds-on! But in the scramble only four runs were scored, three wickets fell with Richard Stemp run out going for the winning run off the last ball! In the two innings runs and wickets were identical - 298 for 9 wkts off 40 overs, but Yorkshire had given away 40 extras including 14 wides and 7 no-balls.

2001 saw Yorkshire lose from the jaws of victory when, having made 176 for 8 in a rain-reduced innings of 42 overs, they let Leicestershire off the hook after having them 142 for 9 and needing 36 from the last wicket. They got them thanks to some solid batting by James Ormond (9*) and spectacular batting by last-man Scott Boswell who made 23*. Only one ball was left when the winning run was made, to give the home side a victory by one wicket.

In all, ten Yorkshire-Leicestershire matches in this competition have been won or lost by the slender margin of seven runs or less, or by less than two wickets.

Will more drama unfold at Leicester this Sunday?