Rishi Patel smashes 53-ball century as Leicestershire win big

Rishi Patel produced a record-breaking performance to power the Leicestershire Foxes to an 8-wicket victory over the Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Fastest List A Century: After being dropped on 0 at second slip, Rishi Patel capitalized on the reprieve to reach his hundred off just 53 balls—breaking the record for the fastest List A century in Leicestershire’s history. Patel's Knock: Finished with 115 runs off 61 balls, featuring 13 fours and 5 sixes. Dominant Chase: Leicestershire comfortably chased down the target of 247 with 67 balls (11.1 overs) to spare. Ben Mike's Finish: Ben Mike guided the remainder of the chase with an unbeaten 71 off 63 balls. Patel, who was dropped before scoring, smashed 13 fours and five sixes, breaking the record for the fastest List A century in Leicestershire's history, which was previously jointly held by Darren Maddy and Lewis Hill. It was also the third-fastest List A century at Wantage Road. Ben Mike hit an unbeaten 71, his second List A half-century to take the Foxes to victory with 11.1 overs to spare. In the Steelbacks innings, Ian Holland's triple strike removed the top order, while Alex Green also claimed three wickets. George Bartlett struck 66, his fourth successive List A half-century and shared a 77-run stand with Stuart van der Merwe (47) but Northamptonshire failed to post a sizeable total for the third game running, bowled out with 27 balls to spare. Rebuilding Stand: After an early wobble, Ricardo Vasconcelos (46) and George Bartlett added 57 runs for the fourth wicket to stabilize the innings. Vasconcelos was aggressive against Ian Holland and Ben Green, while Bartlett overcame a shaky start by hitting Alex Green for back-to-back sixes. Breakthroughs: Vasconcelos eventually fell to Alex Green, picking out the fine-leg fielder on a pull shot. Middle-Order Counter: Stuart van der Merwe played positively (scoring 47), taking on Ben Mike and Ajaz Patel before skying an attempted pull off Alex Green. Rapid Wickets: Bartlett brought up his half-century (eventually making 66) with a sweep off Patel, but edged Alex Green behind shortly after. Luke Procter followed almost immediately after being brilliantly run out by substitute fielder Sheridan Gumbs.