County cricket: Leicestershire and Middlesex reach One-Day Cup final

Ollie Robinson made a useful 76 to help Durham past Middlesex in their One-Day Cup semi-final. Photograph: Steve Bardens/ECB/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenOllie Robinson made a useful 76 to help Durham past Middlesex in their One-Day Cup semi-final. Photograph: Steve Bardens/ECB/Getty Images99.94 cricket blogOne-Day CupCounty cricket: Leicestershire and Middlesex reach One-Day Cup final The finalists – who beat Durham and Nottinghamshire in the last four – will meet at Trent Bridge next month By the 99.94 Cricket BlogGary NaylorTue 18 Aug 2026 10.55 BSTLast modified on Tue 18 Aug 2026 10.59 BSTSharePrefer the Guardian on Google1. Bedingham puts Lancashire’s hopes to sleepDurham served up some of Lancashire’s own medicine, as the home side tasted a brutal quarter-final defeat at Old Trafford. Three days earlier, Lanky – powered by centuries from Keaton Jennings (relatively steady) and Rocky Flintoff (very explosive) – had racked up so big a first innings that Somerset never got close. Now, in the knockout phase, Durham dished out the same treatment.David Bedingham – along with Simon Harmer, probably the best county import of the last decade – made a century and Ollie Robinson a handy 76, as only Lancashire’s George Balderson was able to bowl his overs at under a run a ball.It was, perhaps, too much to expect more fireworks from Jennings and Flintoff, but no other Lancashire batter stepped up to accept the responsibility to make a century and Joe Moores, after facing just eight balls in his Hundred sojourn, was the only one to cross 50. Durham’s Luke Robinson delivered a John Player League-esque analysis of 8-1-22-1 and Shafiqullah Ghafari’s wrist spin picked up four wickets, as the home crowd left Old Trafford disappointed again.2. Haynes has the manual for a chaseIt’s usually said of T20 cricket that a couple of outstanding performances can win a match, but List A cricket usually needs a more thoroughgoing team effort to secure a victory. But not always.At 207...