Cobb ends Nottinghamshire's run

Leicestershire captain Josh Cobb hit a career best unbeaten 67 to end Nottinghamshire's 100 per cent record in the Friends Life t20 clash at Grace Road.

Cobb led by example, clubbing seven fours and a six in his 52-ball innings, as Leicestershire chased down a victory target of 159 with 14 balls to spare. Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan struck a blistering 43 off 21 balls in a fourth-wicket stand of 67 with Cobb as the Outlaws lost for the first time in five games in the competition this season.

For once their powerful batting line-up failed to fire. Samit Patel top scored with 50 off 32 balls but Nottinghamshire could only post a below-par total of 158 for 6 after being put into bat.

Alex Hales and Michael Lumb gave them a good start putting on 41 in the first five overs, with Lumb hitting two sixes off Anthony Ireland. But once Lumb skied a catch off Rob Taylor and was out for 23, and Hales edged behind off Shakib for 27, the momentum went out of the visitors' innings.

Patel and James Taylor (33 off 32 balls) did their best to step up the pace, but some tight bowling from Shakib, Cobb and Shiv Thakor kept Nottinghamshire in check. Thakor with some accurate medium paced seamers dismissed Patel, Chris Read and Steven Mullaney to finish with 3 for 30.

The last 10 overs only brought Nottinghamshire 69 runs and Leicestershire made light work of the chase after a bad start when Greg Smith edged behind in Luke Fletcher's opening over. Cobb and Joe Burns put on 55 in the next six overs before Burns, dropped when he had made just seven, was caught at cover off Mullaney for 26.

Niall O'Brien was stumped for 14 going down the pitch to left arm spinner Graeme White but that proved to be the Outlaws' last success. Cobb, dropped twice, made the most of his fortune, reaching his 50 off 38 balls.

Shakib hammered three fours and three sixes in his whirlwind 43, with Cobb striking the winning runs off the fourth ball of the 18th over to give the Foxes their second win in six games.