da casino： Leicestershire turned in an excellent all-round performance, totrounce Gloucestershire at Grace Road
Sean Beynon25-Jun-2000Leicestershire turned in an excellent all-round performance, totrounce Gloucestershire at Grace Road.They will have been grateful to Darren Maddy and Vince Wells, who bothmanaged half centuries to give Leicestershire a total of 218 in their 45overs.Maddy blasted 87 from just 76 balls, whilst Wells was somewhat fortunate 59.After a dreadful start – some excellent bowling from Mike Smith and a coupleof wickets from Ian Harvey saw the Foxes in trouble – Wells began to findhis feet. He blasted James Averis out of the ground, and was particularlystrong through the off side. Wells was however, dropped twice, once byWindows, then by Cawdron.If Wells was a touch fortunate, Maddy was the image of professionalism. Hescored at around a run a ball from the off, first with quick singles. TheEngland discard picked the gaps in the field brilliantly, rarely missing anopportunity to score. Maddy also hit two massive sixes and four fours. Hewas given good support from Phil DeFreitas, who made 30 from 34 balls, onlyto limp off with a groin strain when the Foxes fielded.A target of 219 was always going to be tough. The Gladiators lost Cunliffeand Windows early on, both to the pace of James Ormond. Despite apartnership of 66 between Kim Barnett (45) and Jack Russell, (49)Leicestershire were always well on top.The Gladiators could not handle some brilliant stuff from Kumble. The Indianleg-spinner picked up 3-28 in his nine overs. Kim Barnett aimed a wild slog,whilst Cawdron and Averis had no answer to Kumble’s variation. On the day,the Foxes were just too good, and deserved their 38 run win. The victorycould have been larger if it weren’t for an entertaining partnership of 38in 14 minutes between Jon Lewis and Jeremy Snape. It was, however, toolittle, too late.