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Maddy runs into form

When the season started, Vince Wells was probably not eyeing this fixture against Hampshire Hawks on June 19; a press conference in a London hotel, prior to a starring appearance in the World Cup final was more what he had in mind.

But Wells and his England colleagues, past and present, had to keep their minds firmly on the job yesterday. Their imposing 248 came under sustained pressure from Hampshire, who began with a 96-run stand between young openers Jason Laney and Derek Kenway.

The middle order was rather less effective, but John Stephenson's late burst of 38 from 34 balls gave Nixon McLean, a tail-end hitter of renown, a chance to seize the day. The penultimate over, bowled by Michael Kasprowicz, featured a stream of full tosses, three of which were hammered for four. Another four from the game's last ball would have tied it up, but James Ormond held his nerve - an excellent yorker kept the batsman to a single and Leicestershire won by three runs.

Some may have doubted Wells' credentials as an England all-rounder but when it comes to a county kickabout he is no slouch. Captaining the side, he struck a solid 43, then took two for 33 from nine overs.

Leicestershire's central contribution came from Darren Maddy, who played two Texaco matches against South Africa last year, batting once and scoring one run. Critics said the selectors should have opened with him, instead of shoving him into an unfamiliar middle-order slot, but he looked happy enough as Leicestershire No 5 here.

Maddy hit 88 not out from 87 balls, cutting seriously and shovelling anything straight over the on-side ring. He looks a good bet to continue his smoking Benson and Hedges form: last year 629 runs at 125.80, next week a B & H Super Cup quarter-final against Warwickshire.