Broad bowls Leicestershire to unlikely victory

Stuart Broad ripped through Derbyshire to give Leicestershire a 28-run victory that seemed unlikely at the start of play at Grace Road.

Yesterday evening Simon Katich and Greg Smith had put the visitors in charge with an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 191. The pair resumed with Derbyshire, on 323 for 3, needing 102 for victory.

But Broad struck with his fourth ball to have Smith caught in the gully without adding to his overnight 74, and in his next over Dan Birch was well caught low at third slip. Derbyshire were 330 for 5 and struggling.

Leicestershire took the new ball and David Masters trapped Ant Botha leg before for 1 with his first delivery, but while Katich remained, Derbyshire were still a threat.

Katich and James Pipe kept the runs ticking along before Broad struck twice in three balls. The breakthrough was the crucial wicket of Katich, who was caught at first slip for 167, and Graham Wagg followed in the same over.

With Broad's tail up, Derbyshire were beaten, and he completed his five-for by bowling Pipe before Masters polished off the innings by having Tom Lungley caught by wicketkeeper Paul Nixon. Derbyshire had lost seven wickets for 73 runs in 83 minutes.

Broad ended with match figures of 9 for 116 and also made a career-best 91 not out in Leicestershire's second innings. And all that came after he had to rush up the motorway from The Oval on the first morning after being released by England.

The only dampener on Leicestershire's celebrations came with the announcement that they had been docked four points for their poor over-rate.