Yorkshire move closer to title with win over Leicestershire

Leicestershire put up some spirited resistance against Yorkshire at Grace Road before losing to the CricInfo Championship Division One leaders by 168 runs.

It was Yorkshire's eighth win of the season and they now need only 20 points from their last three matches to be certain of clinching the title for the first time since 1968.

Captain Vince Wells was 123 not out and Phil DeFreitas 47 when Leicestershire resumed on 245 for seven and still requiring a massive 294 for victory.

The main worry for Yorkshire was whether they could finish off their opponents before the forecast rain arrived and Leicestershire caused one or two anxious glances at the skies as they managed to hold out for 100 minutes.

DeFreitas soon completed his half-century as the eighth-wicket pair remained in control and the stand had galloped on to 154 when Craig White entered the attack and flattened the off-stump of Wells after he had made 133 from 201 balls with 19 fours and a six.

DeFreitas continued to attack strongly as the runs still flowed and it was in trying to go to his century with a big six that he was sensationally caught by Steven Kirby at long off, the fielder having to twist and turn before holding on to the towering hit.

Leicestershire were determined not to go down with a fight and James Ormond and Devon Malcolm struck some more savage blows to roll the score on to 370 when off-spinner Richard Dawson had Malcolm caught at slip by David Byas for 16, leaving Ormond unbeaten on 39.

Byas said afterwards: "I did not think about the weather yesterday and the reason for batting on so long was to make sure we set a big target on what was a pretty docile pitch.

"I was always confident we could bowl them out in five sessions because we have so much variety in our attack and I thought Paul Hutchison and Kirby bowled brilliantly with the new ball to get five down so soon.

"It would be nice to clinch the title in front of a big crowd at Scarborough next week but if we do not play our best cricket then we will have to wait a little longer."