Uncapped England batter Rishi Patel took his first five-wicket haul during a One-Day Cup match between Leicestershire and Worcestershire on Sunday (August 24).
After being asked to field first at their home venue, Grace Road, Leicestershire conceded 328 in their first innings. Brett D'Oliveira, grandson of former England and Worcestershire batter Basil, top-scored with 107. The hosts suffered a blow mid-innings when fast-bowling all-rounder Ben Mike was forced out of the attack following a hamstring injury on the first ball of his fifth over.
With Mike out, Leicestershire used part-timer Rishi Patel regularly. The opener sent down 8.2 overs of spin, taking 5-65 – his maiden five-wicket haul in professional cricket.
Rishi at the 𝗗𝗢𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗘. 🎲
— Leicestershire Foxes 🦊 (@leicsccc) August 24, 2025
Two crucial, quick strikes from Patel. ⚡️#Foxes🦊 pic.twitter.com/QaVgF1E8js
Patel, fresh from the high of a five-wicket haul, came out to open the innings along with Sol Budinger, but could only manage a three-ball duck as he was bowled by Ben Gibbon. The hosts’ innings was rocked further, slipping to 22-3. However, Ben Cox (76) and the injured Ben Mike (72* off 46) batting at No.10, helped the chasing side put up a fight. They eventually fell short by 16 runs, finishing at 312-9.
Match 64, Leicestershire vs Worcestershire
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- Ball by ball Over
Rishi Patel takes surprise five-for
Against Worcestershire, Patel took more wickets (five) than he had in his entire professional career across formats previously (four from 161 matches).
Overall, in his 35-match List A career, which began in 2019, he had bowled only twice before this game (both this season), taking one wicket. The 8.2 overs he bowled in this match are also the most he has in a List A game, going past the seven overs he sent down against Surrey for figures of 1-29.
Similarly, in his first-class career, he has only bowled in five innings across 56 matches since his debut, all of which have come in this year's County Championship. He has taken two wickets in those outings. The pattern is the same in T20s: out of 71 matches, he has bowled only one over – a spell of 1-7 against Nottinghamshire in the 2025 T20 Blast.
Patel earned a call-up to the England Lions in 2023 after a breakthrough season where he scored 1,075 first-class runs at an average of 44.79, with four hundreds and three fifties. He is, however, yet to break through to the senior England side.
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