Sorry Leicestershire sink to embarrassing loss
Division Two leaders Northamptonshire landed a spectacular victory against Leicestershire in their County Championship match at Grace Road, claiming the last eight wickets for 15 runs in 64 balls to win by an innings and 155 runs an hour before lunch on t
21-Jun-2011
Division Two leaders Northamptonshire landed a spectacular victory against Leicestershire in their County Championship match at Grace Road, claiming the last eight wickets for 15 runs in 64 balls to win by an innings and 155 runs an hour before lunch on the third day.
David Lucas and Jack Brooks each took five wickets as bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire were bowled out for a meagre 48 in 25.1 overs. The only player to reach double figures was Matthew Boyce, who made 12.
Lucas finished with 5 for 20 for match figures of 9 for 75, while Brooks claimed 5 for 23. The two seamers each had a wicket to their name overnight with Leicestershire starting the day at 27 for 2, still 176 runs behind.
But Matthew Hoggard's men were then blown away in just over an hour and 15.1 overs. Boyce and Greg Smith survived the first four overs of the morning but, in the fifth, Smith carved a catch to point off Lucas, and the astonishing collapse began. Smith's departure left Leicestershire at 33 for three and 63 balls later they were all out, having added just another 15 runs.
With both Lucas and Brooks swinging the ball in the helpful conditions, the home side had no answer and the innings became a procession of batsmen walking in and then out. England hopeful James Taylor was out for a duck, beaten and bowled by the late inswing of left-armer Lucas, who also trapped Andrew McDonald lbw with a similar delivery. Brooks accounted for Boyce, taking a return catch off a top edge and the tail-enders offered no resistance.
Leicestershire captain Hoggard was last man out caught at gully off Brooks, and admitted his side's performance in the second innings had been an "embarrassment". But it was still not Leicestershire's lowest score against Northamptonshire in a championship match. They were dismissed for 43 at Peterborough back in 1968.
The victory earned top-of-the table Northamptonshire 22 points to continue their push for promotion. Leicestershire collected only two points from the game.
