Leicestershire and Hampshire are hoping to be crowned domestic 50-over champions when they meet in Saturday's One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge.

The counties both won seven of their eight matches in Group A, with Leicestershire claiming a six-wicket victory over Hampshire at the Rose Bowl, and both sides came through the knockout stages in impressive fashion.

Hampshire, who won the One-Day Cup in 2018 and lost in the final the following year, are 4/6 to lift the trophy in Nottingham but 6/5 shots Leicestershire are on a roll in 50-over cricket this year.

Experienced core boosts Leicestershire's chances

The One-Day Cup group stage coincides with The Hundred, which attracts most of county cricket's best players, so the 50-over competition offers an opportunity for teams to test their squad depth and blood youngsters.

However, Leicestershire's success has been built on an experienced core of internationals as Peter Handscomb, Colin Ackermann and Wiaan Mulder have all starred for the Foxes.

Handscomb, who has played 20 Tests and 22 ODIs for Australia, has been an ever-present in the ODC campaign, making 401 runs in nine innings, but he is likely to miss the final as he prepares for the domestic season down under.

Ackermann, a former South Africa Under-19 player who will feature for the Netherlands at next month's World Cup in India, is 9/2 to be Leicestershire's Team - Top Batter and he played a matchwinning innings in the group game against Hampshire.

The powerful right-hander scored an unbeaten 93 to steer the Foxes to a target of 297 at the Rose Bowl in August, having blasted 100 not out off just 62 balls in their previous match against Lancashire.

Ackermann comes into the final in good touch after innings of 33, 93 not out, 22 and 136 in Leicestershire's last two County Championship matches. He also bowled 10 overs of off-spin in the win over Hampshire, taking 2-59, and is worth considering at 10/1 to be named Player of the Match.

Former South Africa international Mulder is 12/1 to win the individual award at Trent Bridge, having taken 12 wickets and scored 374 runs in his nine ODC appearances this summer.

Dawson and Donald could inspire Hampshire

With The Hundred over, some big names are available for selection in the One-Day Cup final but Leicestershire and Hampshire may opt to stick with the players who got them through the group and knockout stages.

Hampshire's inspirational captain James Vince has not featured in the tournament but spinner Liam Dawson made a stunning impact in the semi-final against Warwickshire, taking 7-15 as the hosts were skittled for 93 at Edgbaston.

Dawson, who also played in Hampshire's tense 10-run quarter-final win over Worcestershire, scored 115 and took seven wickets in this month's Championship game against Somerset and is 9/1 to be Player of the Match.

A Hundred to be Scored in the Match is 1/1 and five Hampshire batsmen have made 50-over centuries this season, including Aneurin Donald, who cracked 106 in the final group game against Kent and 115 in the quarter-final.

The former Glamorgan man has hit 12 sixes, six more than any of his teammates, and he is a tempting bet at 7/2 in the Player to Score Most 6s - Team market for trophy favourites Hampshire.

Veteran Wright and youngster Rehan pose wicket-taking threat

After pipping Hampshire to top spot in Group A thanks to their superior net run-rate, Leicestershire bowled out Gloucestershire for 125 in the semi-final.

They slipped to 13-3 and 33-4 in the run-chase before Handscomb (49 not out) and Mulder (55 not out) steered them to a comfortable six-wicket win.

The 38-year-old Chris Wright is the Foxes' leading ODC wicket-taker this season but young all-rounder Tom Scriven, who picked up 3-19 in five overs in the semi-final, has also impressed.

Scriven is 7/2 to be Leicestershire's Team - Top Bowler at Trent Bridge with veteran seamer Wright 7/2 and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed 10/3.

The teenager, who became England's youngest male Test cricketer during last December's tour of Pakistan, played for Southern Brave in The Hundred. He has made himself available for the One-Day Cup final before joining up with the England squad for next week's ODI series against Ireland.

Born in Nottingham, Rehan would love to play a starring role for Leicestershire at Trent Bridge, where he took 2-27 off his four overs in England's T20 defeat to New Zealand earlier this month.

bet365 News Team

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