Australians plunder Leicestershire attack

Australians 321 for 4 (Hayden 107, Symonds 92*, Martyn 85) beat Leicestershire 226 for 8 (Hogg 3-56, Gibson 50) by 95 runs
Scorecard

England's bowlers may have stolen the show at the Rose Bowl today, but up at Grace Road, Australia's batsmen served up a timely reminder that stiffer tasks lie ahead. Led by a thumping 107 from Matthew Hayden and iced with a thrilling 59-ball 92 not out from Andrew Symonds, the Aussies ran riot, racking up a massive 321 for 4 in their 50 overs against Leicestershire, to ensure an overwhelming 95-run victory in their warm-up for the NatWest Series.

Leicestershire did at least save face with the bat, batting out their full quota of overs, but victory never entered the equation. Tom New and Darren Maddy were pinned down from the start by Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, and when Brad Hogg ripped out the middle-order with a three-wicket burst, Leicestershire had slumped to 120 for 6 and a rout beckoned.

But Otis Gibson and Paul Nixon combined with a face-saving 94-run stand for the ninth wicket. Gibson's 50 came from just 49 balls, including six fours and a six, and was only ended when McGrath returned for his second spell. All of Australia's frontline bowlers claimed at least one wicket, with McGrath's 2 for 33 from 10 overs the pick.

Australia's performance in the field was merely steady - but their batting had been spectacular. Hayden led the charge with 107 from 96 balls, and his example rubbed off on his team-mates. Damien Martyn anchored the performance with a solid and typically stylish 85, but it was left to Symonds to apply the coup de grace. He belted 10 fours and three sixes in a 59-ball onslaught, and was left just eight short of his hundred when the overs ran out.

Following on from their Twenty20 victory over the Professional Cricketers' Association at Arundel, the Australians proved once again that they are fully focused ahead of a tough tour. They won the toss and chose to bat first, and though Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting both fell cheaply, the Leicestershire attack was unable to stem the runs.

Charl Willoughby, with figures of 0 for 37 from seven overs, was the best of the bowlers, but the spinners Jeremy Snape and Claude Henderson were taken apart, with 17 runs coming off one Henderson over. With England's top-order faltering at The Rose Bowl, Australia have just ramped up the pressure another notch.