National Cricket League

Yorkshire versus Leicestershire

at Headingley

Sunday 22 June 2025


Leicestershire will be making only their fifth visit to Headingley in this competition, begun in 1969 and continued since in association with a number of sponsors.

Of the four previous visits Leicestershire have won two and lost two.

In the 1972 encounter Yorkshire won by just 3 runs. Barrie Leadbeater (40) added 85 for the first Yorkshire wicket with Richard Lumb (55) and with a bright 26* from Richard Hutton Yorkshire totalled 176 for 9 from their 40 overs.

At 121 for 2 Leicestershire were well on their way. Barry Dudleston had made 61 and Roger Tolchard 48 in a quick-fire partnership of 91 but 6 wickets fell for only 38 runs. Jack Birkenshaw and Ken Higgs just failed to scramble the required eight runs from the last over to leave Yorkshire winners in a closely fought contest.

Leadbeater, Dudleston and John Steele (18 and 1 for 12) are now first-class umpires and Dickie Bird was one of the two who stood in the match.

Another very tight and exciting finish came in 1981 when Leicestershire were next at Headingley. In a match of collapse and recovery Yorkshire just had the edge to claim victory by only 5 runs. Put in, Yorkshire were reduced to 86 for 7 before David Bairstow with a belligerent 48 and Arnie Sidebottom with a robust 26* guided Yorkshire to 147 for 8 wicket in a rain-reduced innings of 33 overs.

With Leicestershire at 66 for 7, Yorkshire seemed well on top but John Steele stood firm until the last over when he was bowled by Neil Hartley for 48, Ken Higgs was then run out to leave Leicestershire 142 all out and Yorkshire winners by 5 runs.

In contrast, the fixtures in 1998 and 2000 were both won by Leicestershire with some ease.

In the 1998 match Yorkshire were all out in 38.1 overs for 93. Only Richard Blakey and Gavin Hamilton coming to terms with the Leicestershire attack. The visiting batsmen had no trouble in reaching their target in 22.2 overs for the lost of just two wickets.

The 2000 match was won by Leicestershire by 3 wickets. That Yorkshire made an inadequate 189 for 4 wickets from 45 overs was due in the main to Gary Fellows (65) and Richard Blakey (62) who added 113 for the 2nd wicket. Darren Lehmann was undefeated on 30*.

Paul Hutchison did reduce Leicestershire to 41 for 3 but Ben Smith guided the midland county home with an impressive 88* with ten balls to spare.

Of the 37 matches completed between these two sides since 1969, Yorkshire have won 19, lost 17 and one ended in a tie. In addition there have been two ‘no results’.

Almost a quarter of these matches have ended by the very slender margin of seven runs or less, or by two wickets or less.

Yorkshire have lost the last five matches in this series - time for a change on Sunday!