Leics outplay Lancashire

Leicestershire's convincing victory by seven wickets at Grace Road has given Lancashire a very clear prospect of relegation from the First Division of the National League just a year after they had won the title.

They reached their target with 8.1 overs remaining after Aftab Habib (63) and Ben Smith (54 n.o.) had put on 133 runs in 27 overs for the third wicket. The visitors, who had been put into bat, stuttered to 162-9 - their last seven wickets going down for 58 runs in 14 overs.

While they remain at the foot of the table the winners have a good chance of winning the title. Only Saurav Ganguly (58) batted with any confidence as the other batsmen were outbowled by leg-spinner Anil Kumble (3-29) and quick bowlers James Ormond and Dominic Williamson. Lancashire had appeared to be well-set at 104-2 but four wickets fell for nine runs in six overs following Crawley's dismissal caught-and-bowled Chris Lewis. Consequently Leicestershire faced a comparatively modest target from which to achieve their fourth victory of the summer.

It appeared to less easily accessible when Lewis and captain Vince Wells were out with only nine runs scored. That was when Aftab Habib and Smith, safely negotiating the difficulties, took Leicestershire to the brink of success as they benefited from poor fielding and bowling. Of 26 extras there were 23 wides, including four in Andrew Flintoff's first over. Habib's runs were made from 95 deliveries with 11 fours - he was out to a skied catch by Mike Smethurst off Chris Schofield with the score at 142. Smith, however, took the home county to victory with a fifty off 77 balls in which there were six fours, in partnership with Darren Maddy.