Yorkshire extend Championship lead with crushing win over Leicestershire

Steven Kirby produced another almost unbelievable bowling performance against Leicestershire at Headingley today as Yorkshire stormed to victory by an innings and 227 runs to increase their lead at the top of the CricInfo Championship Division One table.

After taking six for 46 against his former county in the first innings, Kirby gave them a further pasting when they followed on 326 runs behind on the third morning.

He finished with six for 26 as Leicestershire were skittled for 99 to give him astonishing match figures of 12 for 72.

It was only in Yorkshire's last home game that Kirby made his debut by being drafted in at the halfway stage of the Kent match to replace Matthew Hoggard and grabbing seven for 50 in the second innings.

In a hostile opening spell with the new ball, Kirby took the first four wickets to fall before being rested with figures of four for 16 off six overs.

Matthew Hoggard then warmed up for this week's first Ashes Test at Edgbaston with three wickets and there was also one for Chris Silverwood as dispirited Leicestershire slumped to 71 for eight.

Kirby was brought back for a stint at the Kirkstall Lane end and he polished off Leicestershire by knocking back James Ormond's off-stump and pinning Neil Burns lbw.

Yorkshire took a maximum 20 points from the match and their fifth Championship win of the season left them well poised at the halfway stage of the programme to go on and snatch the title for the first time since 1968.

Kirby said after Yorkshire's triumph: "To take seven wickets on my debut for Yorkshire was absolutely brilliant and to manage six in each innings against Leicestershire is just another dream come true."