MADDY'S ALLROUND SKILLS TOO MUCH FOR SURREY

Surrey, set a target of 241, were bowled out for 112 with Darren Maddy taking the last three wickets in four balls without conceding a run.

But it was the home side's batsmen who had laid the foundations for the victory by posting their biggest total of the season in the competition.

Put into bat The Foxes scored 240 all out with Darren Stevens hitting 63 and Maddy completing an impressive all-round performance with 44 off 33 balls.

Stevens and Iain Sutcliffe provided the initial momentum for the innings with a stand of 73 in 12 overs. Sutcliffe, who made 36 had all run four plus a seven to his name, courtesy of four overthrows from Gareth Batty.

Steven cracked three successive fours off Gary Butcher and raced to 50 with nine fours before edging to wicket-keeper Jonathan Batty off the bowling of Ben Hollioake.

Although a flurry of wickets in mid-innings checked the Foxes for a time Maddy and Aftab Habib put them on track again with a stand of 67 in eight overs for the eighth wicket.

Excellent bowling from new-ball pair James Ormond and Scott Boswell put the Lions in early trouble and they were always behind the required rate. Wickets fell at regular intervals and only Gareth Batty with 30 offered much resistance.

Phil DeFreitas and Jon Dakin took two wickets apiece before Maddy wrapped up victory by clean bowling Saqlain Mushtaq, Carl Greenidge and Ed Giddins with the first four balls of his second over.

LEICESTERSHIRE FOXES SET TESTING TARGET FOR SURREY LIONS

They hit 240 all out off their 45 overs with Darren Stevens scoring 63 and Darren Maddy 44. The Foxes put their foot on the accelerator pedal late in the innings with 73 runs coming off the last 10 overs and 45 off the final five.

It was Stevens who provided the early impetus with his first half-century in the competition this season. He shared a stand of 73 in 12 overs with Iain Sutcliffe for the second wicket after the early loss of John Dakin reaching his 50 off 47 balls with nine fours.

Sutcliffe, out for 36, had an all run four and a seven to his name. The seven came courtesy of four overthrows after the batsmen had run three.

A flurry of wickets in mid-innings checked the Foxes progress until Maddy joined forces with Aftab Habib in an eighth wicket stand of 67 in eight overs which regained the initiative for the home side. Ben Hollioake was Surrey's most successful bowler with three for 44 while brother Adam and off-spinner Gareth Batty claimed two wickets apiece.

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Date-stamped : 08 Jul2001 - 22:39