After which there have been two. A captivating Metro Financial institution One-Day Cup marketing campaign will attain its conclusion in simply over one month’s time as Leicestershire and Middlesex go head-to-head at Trent Bridge for the second silverware of the county season.
The knockout levels had lots to dwell as much as after the thrilling conclusion to the group levels and they didn’t disappoint, with a miraculous Notts restoration at York within the quarter-finals, adopted by two excellent semi-finals on Sunday as Luke Hollman staged a dramatic Middlesex fightback at Radlett and Leicestershire held off an in-form Notts in entrance of their jubilant house trustworthy.
The competitors continues to play out within the shadows of The Hundred with out greater than 100 of the main home gamers, although as soon as once more it has supplied a platform for quite a few youthful gamers to step up in entrance of robust crowds throughout the nation.
Right here is an XI of the best-performing gamers from this yr’s version underneath the age of 23.
For unique tales and all of the detailed cricket news you want, subscribe to The Cricket Paper web site, digital version, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day
1. Noah Thain (Essex)
- Runs: 571
- Common: 71.37
- 50s: 4
- 100s: 2
- Excessive Rating: 109
Maybe the shock bundle of the group levels, Essex’s Noah Thain embraced a brand new function on the high of the order and flourished because the competitors’s main run-scorer throughout the group stage part.
The 21-year-old had beforehand by no means scored an expert century till he went back-to-back in opposition to Sussex and Hampshire on the finish of July, while he additionally added consistency with 4 additional scores within the seventies.
A member of England’s U19 World Cup squad in 2024 and considered one of quite a few academy graduates to determine themselves within the Essex squad, Thain lately signed a brand new deal on the membership on the eve of the competitors and rapidly showcased the “huge potential” referenced by director of cricket Chris Silverwood.
PICTURES: Alamy
2. Charlie Tear (Sussex)
- Runs: 379
- Common: 47.37
- 50s: 1
- 100s: 2
- Excessive Rating: 118
Wicketkeeper Charlie Tear was a uncommon vivid spark on the high of the order in an in any other case dismal marketing campaign for disaster membership Sussex, who gained simply considered one of their eight video games.
The 22-year-old, capped 28 occasions in white-ball cricket for Scotland, scored his maiden skilled century on this competitors final yr and added two extra to his title this time round with 118 at Durham and 111 in opposition to Hampshire – each of which got here at a strike price in extra of 100.
He additionally top-scored with a run-a-ball 73 to set the platform for Sussex’s solitary victory away at Essex.
Like Thain, Tear was additionally rewarded with a call-up to the Skilled County Membership Choose XI that lately confronted Pakistan at Beckenham.
3. Adam Thomas (Surrey)
- Runs: 350
- Common: 58.33
- 50s: 3
- 100s: 0
- Excessive Rating: 83*
Adam Thomas had already introduced himself with a century in each the One-Day Cup final yr and on County Championship debut in Might however the 20-year-old solidified his expertise with a productive marketing campaign for a depleted Surrey aspect.
It was an outstanding begin to the group levels with three consecutive half-centuries, two of which being comparable unbeaten knocks of 82 and 83 in opposition to Lancashire and Northants respectively to information his aspect house in profitable chases.
That might be pretty much as good because it obtained for Thomas, although he did nonetheless contribute two scores within the forties and in addition provided some helpful overs of medium tempo with figures of 2-35 within the win over Kent.
4. Hamza Shaikh (Leicestershire)
- Runs: 509
- Common: 84.83
- 50s: 2
- 100s: 2
- Excessive Rating: 104*
What a shrewd piece of enterprise this might show to be from Leicestershire, bringing highly-rated batter Hamza Shaikh throughout the Midlands from Warwickshire searching for extra first-team alternatives.
And the 20-year-old made a right away influence for his new aspect, scoring an unbeaten century in his second look because the Foxes beat Surrey, earlier than making two additional scores within the nineties in opposition to Lancashire and Kent amid a run of strong begins.
He saved his most vital contribution when it mattered most although within the semi-final at Grace Highway in opposition to neighbours Notts Outlaws with 104 off 109 balls, accelerating by way of the gears in direction of his three figures as he propelled the hosts to an finally match-winning complete of 303.
5. Vansh Jani (Warwickshire)
- Runs: 374
- Common: 62.33
- 50s: 0
- 100s: 4
- Excessive Rating: 98
From a former Warwickshire prospect to a really present one in 21-year-old batter Vansh Jani, who produced a breakthrough run of kind within the second half of the marketing campaign which has seen him earn a brand new contract at Edgbaston.
A product of the South Asian Cricket Academy, Jani scored 165 runs in his debut One-Day Cup marketing campaign for the membership final yr and improved on that considerably with 4 half-centuries within the area of 5 innings, solely narrowly lacking out on his first skilled hundred when he was dismissed for 98 of their remaining sport in opposition to Kent.
His runs additionally got here out a really wholesome strike price of 106.55 – greater than any batter with greater than 350 runs – and a complete of 12 sixes was solely bettered by Andrew Neal (18), Ben Geddes (16), Hamza Shaikh and Alex Horton (each 13).
6. Alex Horton (Glamorgan)
- Runs: 334
- Common: 41.75
- 50s: 2
- 100s: 1
- Excessive Rating: 122*
There’s a conveyor belt of Welsh expertise popping out of Glamorgan, with keeper Alex Horton properly and really on the coronary heart of it because the doubtless long-term successor to veteran gloveman Chris Cooke.
It was a difficult competitors for Glamorgan, who operated with an especially inexperienced aspect, although it was two of their younger lads who shone within the opener as Horton and Jack Hope-Bell (19) each struck maiden centuries in a shocking 240-run partnership in opposition to Sussex.
Runs have been inconsistent for the rest of the group levels however valiant efforts of 81 at Repton Faculty in opposition to Derbyshire and 85 at house to Essex in misplaced causes demonstrated his ball-striking skill.
7. Ekansh Singh (Kent)
- Runs: 186
- Common: 31.00
- Wickets: 12
- Bowling Common: 26.58
- Financial system: 5.80
At a time when England’s seam bowling all-rounder depth is underneath the microscope, it’s thrilling to see the emergence of 1 within the type of 20-year-old Ekansh Singh at Kent.
It was certainly not a standout marketing campaign when it comes to numbers however there have been strong contributions all through, notably his 20-ball 40 to assist defeat Somerset in a thriller at Taunton and a career-best 4-40 with the ball in a victory over Notts.
Singh made his England Lions debut in opposition to South Africa earlier within the yr, scoring a powerful 95 within the second four-day match, and is definitely a reputation to regulate over the approaching years.
8. Fateh Singh (Worcestershire)
- Wickets: 15
- Bowling Common: 26.86
- Financial system: 6.16
- Greatest Figures: 6-32
From one Singh to a different.
There weren’t too many home spinners that includes among the many main wicket-takers within the competitors which makes Worcestershire’s Fateh Singh a standout performer in his craft.
The 22-year-old left-armer has loved a constructive interval few months within the aspect, claiming a maiden five-fer in the latest County Championship fixture in opposition to Gloucestershire in June, snaring 5 wickets in two T20 Blast video games on the finish of the group levels and main the way in which with the ball for Worcestershire within the One-Day Cup.
His marketing campaign spotlight was undoubtedly returning a outstanding 6-32 within the opener at New Highway, dismantling the Derbyshire center order, while he additionally held his nerve within the very subsequent sport within the midst of some highly effective Hampshire decrease order hitting to safe a slim victory for the 2025 champions.
9. Luke Robinson (Durham)
- Wickets: 14
- Bowling Common: 27.64
- Financial system: 5.36
- Greatest Figures: 3-44
Seamer Luke Robinson made his Championship debut at Lord’s in Might and loved his first prolonged run within the aspect in the course of the One-Day Cup, in what was a robust Durham aspect that reached the semi-final levels.
Taking the new-ball forward of Ben Stokes, the 22-year-old impressed with 3-44 of their opening victory at Derbyshire and solely went wicket-less on one event in 9 video games.
Solely three seamers obtained extra overs underneath their belt all through the marketing campaign than Robinson, who noticed his early profession stall with harm in 2024, however may now see himself within the body to make his mark within the County Championship run-in.
10. Alex Inexperienced (Leicestershire)
- Wickets: 18
- Bowling Common: 19.94
- Financial system: 5.79
- Greatest Figures: 4-40
Alex Inexperienced, the breakout star of the 2025 One-Day Cup, was at it as soon as once more, snaring the second-most wickets with 18 for the second marketing campaign working.
The imposing England U19 fast improved on each his common and financial system price this time round and while he couldn’t add to his three five-wicket hauls final yr, confirmed a a lot larger stage of consistency with not less than one wicket in every of his eight appearances.
His finest efficiency (4-40) got here within the semi-final win over Notts with essential lower-order dismissals within the remaining ten overs to halt the guests’ progress.
Left-armer Josh Hull had his second within the highlight to safe the title for the Foxes in dramatic fashion at Trent Bridge three years in the past and Inexperienced can be hoping for one thing comparable subsequent month.
11. Naavya Sharma (Middlesex)
- Wickets: 17
- Bowling Common: 18.88
- Financial system: 4.96
- Greatest Figures: 4-29
The competition in Nottingham on September 20 pits two thrilling tempo prospects in opposition to each other, with Naavya Sharma among the many main performers in Middlesex’s considerably sudden run to a primary shot at a white-ball trophy since 2008.
Possessing a extra conventional new-ball skillset than Inexperienced, the 20-year-old has rapidly established himself as a Championship common for Middlesex this season and has now made additional strides in his debut Listing A marketing campaign with two four-wicket hauls within the group levels in opposition to Glamorgan and Durham, in addition to producing an outstanding opening spell within the semi-final at Radlett.
Sharma made his England Lions debut in opposition to South Africa in Might and is considered one of an rising crop of fast bowlers at Middlesex, alongside Noah Cornwell and Seb Morgan.
Notable mentions
Nathan Fernandes, 22 (Middlesex)
- Runs: 380
- Common: 42.22
- 50s: 1
- 100s: 1
- Excessive Rating: 112
Josh Thomas, 21 (Somerset)
- Runs: 331
- Common: 47.28
- 50s: 0
- 100s: 3
- Excessive Rating: 97*
Rocky Flintoff, 18 (Lancashire)
- Runs: 315
- Common: 63.00
- 50s: 1
- 100s: 1
- Excessive Rating: 123
Will Bennison, 19 (Yorkshire)
- Runs: 295
- Common: 32.77
- 50s: 0
- 100s: 3
- Excessive Rating: 91
Mackenzie Jones, 21 (Essex)
- Wickets: 15
- Bowling Common: 26.06
- Financial system: 6.23
- Greatest Figures: 3-43
Tom Ealham, 22 (Surrey)
- Wickets: 9
- Bowling Common: 38.88
- Financial system: 5.64
- Greatest Figures: 3-37
READ MORE: Open season as County Championship poised for bumper finale
