Leicestershire and Middlesex have secured their places in the One-Day Cup final, with Leicestershire seeing off Nottinghamshire at Grace Road and Middlesex completing a dramatic chase against Durham. The two counties will now meet in the showpiece match at Trent Bridge next month, with Middlesex the neutral favourites after their overwhelming group-stage form and Leicestershire riding the momentum of a maiden century from a 20-year-old newcomer.
According to a national broadcaster's report, the semi-finals were played on Sunday 16 August 2026, with Leicestershire hosting Nottinghamshire at Leicester as Group A winners and reigning 2024 champions, while Middlesex hosted Durham at Radlett rather than Lord's, which was unavailable, after winning seven of their eight group matches. The final itself has been scheduled for Sunday 20 September 2026 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, the same source confirms.
The road to the last four had already been eventful. Our earlier coverage of the group stage noted that, after the final round of matches on 4 August 2026, Middlesex were the only side to have already secured a knockout berth, while Yorkshire, Kent and several others were still scrapping for the remaining places. A fortnight before that, a separate report detailed how an unbeaten century from Emilio Gay had lifted Durham past Hampshire, while Middlesex and Leicestershire both moved to the top of their respective groups.
How did Durham dispose of Lancashire in the quarter-finals?
Durham inflicted a heavy defeat on Lancashire at Old Trafford, turning the tables just three days after Lancashire themselves had posted a huge total built on centuries from Keaton Jennings and Rocky Flintoff to see off Somerset. This time it was Durham doing the damage, with David Bedingham making a century and Ollie Robinson adding a rapid 76 as Lancashire's bowlers, with the exception of George Balderson, struggled to contain the scoring rate.
Per ESPNcricinfo's match report, Durham's total reached 349 for 8, and Lancashire were bowled out for just 187, the match finishing after 36.1 overs — a margin of 162 runs. Neither Jennings nor Flintoff could repeat their heroics from the previous match, and only Joe Moores managed to pass 50 for the home side. Durham's Luke Robinson produced tight figures of 8-1-22-1, while the wrist spin of Durham's other bowlers accounted for four more wickets as the crowd left disappointed.
How did Nottinghamshire recover to beat Yorkshire?
Nottinghamshire staged a remarkable turnaround against Yorkshire in the second quarter-final, slumping to 1 for 3 in their chase before recovering to win by three wickets and book a semi-final against Leicestershire. Yorkshire had looked set for a total well beyond 300 at 207-4 with more than 11 overs remaining, but the pace of Olly Stone and Dillon Pennington combined with the spin of Farhan Ahmed to restrict them to 273 for 9.
ESPNcricinfo's coverage details how Ben Coad and George Hill then tore through Nottinghamshire's top order, leaving the scoreboard reading 1 for 3 when Kyle Verreynne came to the crease. Nottinghamshire's rescue act was built on unbeaten centuries from Verreynne and Jack Haynes, who steadied the innings before Pennington had to see the visitors home with only Brett Hutton and an unfit Lydon James left to bat. The win extended a run of strong recent form for a Nottinghamshire side that has won plenty of matches over the past two seasons, though the same broadcaster's report notes the county had not reached a One-Day Cup final since the competition's showpiece moved from Lord's to Trent Bridge in 2021.
How did Leicestershire see off Nottinghamshire in the semi-final?
Leicestershire, sheltered from the quarter-final heat by a bye earned through winning their group, made home advantage count against Nottinghamshire at Grace Road. Hamza Shaikh, only 20 and a recent recruit from Warwickshire, made a century, with contributions from the rest of the top seven lifting Leicestershire to 303 for 7 — a total described as firmly in the category of a defendable score.
Teenage academy product Alex Green, introduced as third change, then made the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Verreynne just as Nottinghamshire were building momentum in their chase. Nottinghamshire were eventually dismissed 24 runs short of the target, a result that leaves them to turn their attention to defending the County Championship, which resumes this week at the Oval.
How did Middlesex complete their chase against Durham?
Middlesex produced what was described as a chase for the ages, hauling themselves back from seven wickets down and needing 100 more runs to beat Durham and reach the final. Luke Hollman was the architect of the turnaround, having earlier taken the wickets of Will Rhodes for 80 and both of Durham's quarter-final centurions, Bedingham and Robinson, to help restrict Durham to 254 for 7.
That total appeared more than sufficient as Durham's attack, spearheaded by a combative Ben Stokes who felt aggrieved by a decision while batting himself, kept taking wickets throughout the Middlesex innings. Hollman was joined by Tom Helm, and the pair settled into a partnership built on defending good deliveries and punishing anything short or wide. Helm eventually fell for a vital 40, but Hollman farmed the strike before Noah Cornwell saw the innings through to its conclusion.
Who has stood out individually in this year's competition?
Essex's Noah Thain has emerged as one of the standout batters of the tournament after being promoted to open the innings. The 20-year-old had managed only one half-century in the entire 2025 season and struggled to force his way into Essex's Championship side more than three times, but a switch to the top of the order has transformed his campaign: two centuries and four further scores above 70 have taken his tally to 571 runs at an average of 71 and a strike rate of 90.
Yorkshire's Ben Coad has enjoyed a similarly significant rebound with the ball. Having taken only four Championship wickets all season, Coad's accurate fast-medium bowling has proved far better suited to 50-overs cricket, where batters are generally less aggressive and slip fielders are in place for catches. He has taken two five-wicket hauls among 17 wickets at an average of 15, with an economy rate just above four.
What happens next?
With both semi-finals now decided, attention turns to the final itself, which is scheduled for Sunday 20 September 2026 at Trent Bridge, according to a national broadcaster's report. Middlesex will arrive as the form side of the competition having won seven of their eight group games, while Leicestershire will bid to add a second title after winning the tournament in 2024.
Key Facts:
- Leicestershire beat Nottinghamshire by 24 runs at Grace Road, with Hamza Shaikh scoring a century on his way to a Leicestershire total of 303 for 7.
- Middlesex beat Durham after recovering from seven wickets down needing 100 more runs, with Luke Hollman starring with both bat and ball.
- Durham had earlier beaten Lancashire by 162 runs in the quarter-finals, posting 349 for 8 before dismissing Lancashire for 187.
- Nottinghamshire beat Yorkshire by three wickets in the other quarter-final after recovering from 1 for 3, thanks to unbeaten centuries from Jack Haynes and Kyle Verreynne.
- The One-Day Cup final is scheduled for Sunday 20 September 2026 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
