Leicestershire vs Gloucestershire, County Championship Division Two, Prediction: 17/5/2024

### LEIC VS GLO MATCH PREDICTION & ANALYSIS

Leicestershire will be aiming for their first win of the season as they take on Gloucestershire at Grace Road in what promises to be an exciting Jupiler League game. Leicestershire have shown strong form with the bat recently but face their toughest challenge yet against Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire come into this match buoyed by a significant away win against Northants, bouncing back impressively from their loss to Sussex with strong performances in both departments in their last two Tests. Despite their excellent bowling, Grace Road’s batting-friendly conditions will pose a tough challenge, as evidenced by the two draws at this venue this season. Unless there is a change in pitch conditions, a clear winner between the two teams seems unlikely.

### TEAMS PREVIEW

**Leicestershire Preview**
Leicestershire are back at Grace Road for their third home game of the County Championship 2024. They’ve been solid with both bat and ball, and they’ll be looking to push further for their first win of the season. In their last match against Middlesex at Lord’s, a batting collapse at the top was rescued by Peter Handscomb and Rehan Ahmed with a crucial 64-run partnership for the 5th wicket. Handscomb’s century helped them post a respectable first innings score despite early setbacks.

In their previous home game at Grace Road, Leicestershire posted over 450 runs, with key contributions from Handscomb, Louis Kimber, and Rehan Ahmed. However, opener Marcus Harris, who scored a double century against Derbyshire, needs to find his form again alongside Rishi Patel at the top. The team’s bowling attack will rely heavily on Tom Scriven, Scott Currie, and Ben Green, with Rehan Ahmed leading the spin department.

**Leicestershire Predicted Playing XI:**
Rishi Patel, Marcus Harris, Louis Kimber, Lewis Hill (c), Peter Handscomb, Rehan Ahmed, Ben Cox (wk), Ben Mike, Ben Green, Tom Scriven, Scott Currie

**Gloucestershire Preview**
Gloucestershire enter this game with confidence after a convincing win over Northamptonshire. They have rebounded well from their loss to Sussex, with their middle and lower order consistently delivering strong performances. Captain Graeme van Buuren has been in good form, particularly in the number 6 spot, providing key contributions alongside players like Miles Hammond and James Bracey.

Hammond scored a century in the first innings of their last Test, with recent scores including 28, 112, 11, 81, 77, and 56. Opener Cameron Bancroft also impressed, remaining unbeaten on 130 in the second innings. While their batting has been formidable, the bowling unit, led by Marchant de Lange with his five-wicket haul against Northamptonshire, has been crucial to their success. Ajeet Dale and Josh Shaw will also be key players in the bowling lineup.

**Gloucestershire Predicted Playing XI:**
Cameron Bancroft, Ben Charlesworth, Oliver Price, Miles Hammond, James Bracey (wk), Graeme van Buuren (c), Tom Price, Zafar Gohar, Marchant de Lange, Ajeet Dale, Josh Shaw

### Weather Conditions
The pitch at Grace Road is known for being batting-friendly, with high scores in the first two innings. Bowlers may find some assistance late in the match. Scattered showers are expected on Day 1, followed by cloudy weather on Day 2 in Leicester.

### Venue Details
Grace Road in Leicester will host the 23rd match of the County Championship Division Two between Leicestershire and Gloucestershire. The average first innings total at this venue has been above 400, making it a high-scoring ground where a decisive result is unlikely given the pitch and weather conditions.

### Toss: To Bat
Given the high-scoring nature of the pitch, batting first is the preferred choice. A large first-innings total can set the tone for the match and put pressure on the opposition.

### Winning Prediction
This match promises to be a closely contested battle between two in-form teams with strong batting lineups. Gloucestershire’s depth suggests they could post a significant total, especially on this batting-friendly pitch, while Leicestershire have an excellent home record. The weather and pitch conditions point towards a draw, but if a winner were to emerge, Leicestershire might have the edge.

**Prediction: Leicestershire to win**