Stevens at heart of Leicestershire Foxes big total

A magnificent innings of 125 from 119 balls by Darren Stevens has put Leicestershire Foxes into a good position in their Norwich Union League Division One match at Chester-le-Street. The Foxes reached an impressive 266 for seven in their 45 overs, with nobody other than Stevens even getting a half-century.

The only real support came initially from Trevor Ward who compiled an uncharacteristically slow 33, taking 51 balls as he did. Otherwise, it was not until another Darren - Maddy - joined him that Stevens was able to find a partner who did not encounter problems with conditions and the bowling. Maddy only hit one boundary in the 19-ball innings, but he managed to scamper 30 runs to be not out at the close.

Stevens, whose name appears in the provisional list of 20 to attend the ECB National Academy next winter, demonstrated just why he would not be out of place in such company. He came to the crease when Iain Sutcliffe was out early on, and did not depart until there were 256 on the board. By that time he had done his job and now it is up to the bowlers to see if they can heap more misery on the Durham Dynamos.