LEICESTERSHIRE overcame the self-inflicted handicap of conceding the highest number of extras (53) ever registered in this competition to beat group leaders Warwickshire with three balls to spare.

Considering the shoddy way in which the home attack gave away 34 runs in wides (possibly a record in all domestic one-day games), victory was a very considerable achievement.

But Warwickshire have only themselves to blame - given the help they received from the opposing bowlers - for not building a score which was far beyond Leicestershire's hopes even though Trevor Penney and Dougie Brown each scored half-centuries as they added 116 for the fifth wicket in 20 overs.

Phil Simmons proved his worth yet again for Leicestershire with a whirlwind knock which carried the side to the verge of victory. Batting with a ricked neck, for which he twice needed treatment during his innings, he scored 89 off 75 balls, including five boundaries and four sixes. His only error was to call Chris Lewis for an impossible single which left the Leicester captain run out off the only ball he faced.

Simmons finally fell to a low diving catch in the deep by Penney in the 48th over but Paul Nixon ably assumed the West Indian's mantle and brought victory - which cost Warwickshire their unbeaten record in the competition - with a six off Neil Smith.

Iain Sutcliffe, following his century 48 hours hours earlier, scored a fine fifty and shared in an opening stand of 87 with Darren Maddy. Then spinners Smith and Ashley Giles hauled Warwickshire back into the contest.

It was a curious decision by the Warwickshire captain, Brian Lara, not to give Smith - who had taken three wickets in 12 balls in his first spell - his full ration of overs. By the time he returned for the final over, the game was as good as lost.

Jack Birkenshaw, Leicestershire's coach, could find no rational explanation for the succession of wides. The litany of deliveries sprayed equally down both leg and off began in the day's first over when Alan Mullally sent down three wides. Next over Smith shovelled a long hop to cover, the sole reward for David Millns, who then bowled so horribly - five wides in one over - that he was allowed only four overs with the ball.