Vintage Malcolm wrecks Lancashire after rain intervenes

An impressive spell of bowling from 38-year-old Devon Malcolm set Leicestershire on the way to victory in their Benson & Hedges Cup group game against Lancashire at Grace Road.

The former England fast bowler took three for 13 in his four overs to dismantle Lancashire's top order as they chased a revised victory target of 118 off 21 overs'

Lancashire never recovered and were eventually bowled out for 90 in 20.2 overs to give the home side victory by 27 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

It was vintage Malcolm as he ripped into the Lancashire batsmen dismissing John Crawley, Joe Scuderi and then Mike Atherton. With James Ormond equally effective at the other end, Lancashire plunged to 25 for five and there was no way back from that.

Ormond, bowling with real pace and excellent accuracy, took two for seven in his five overs, claiming the wickets of Andrew Flintoff and Graham Lloyd.

Although Neil Fairbrother with 32 and Warren Hegg with 26 off 19 balls, put on 46 for the sixth wicket, the visitors always had too much to do and 83 off the last 10 overs proved beyond them.

Vince Wells removed Fairbrother and Jon Dakin dismissed Hegg, helped by a great catch from Aftab Habib, before Darren Maddy nipped in for the last two wickets.

In their innings Leicestershire made 193 for seven off their 50 overs with Daniel Marsh top scoring with 42. This was Lancashire's second defeat and they now face a tough task to qualify for the knock-out stages. Malcolm won the Gold Award for man of the match.