Wicket-keeper Neil Burns hit his best score in limited-overs cricket to steer Leicestershire Foxes to a sensational win over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in a dramatic Norwich Union League clash at Grace Road.

Burns, who joined the Foxes last summer after five years out of county cricket, hammered a brilliant unbeaten 90 off 96 balls to take the home side to their victory target of 173 with seven overs to spare.

But it was one of the most remarkable wins seen at Grace Road for a long time. The Foxes looked doomed to defeat when they were 30 for six after 10 overs and 57 for seven after 17.

There seemed no way back from there, but Burns was joined by the experienced Phil DeFreitas and the two of them shared a record-breaking eighth-wicket stand of 116 spread across 21 overs.

Burns struck the ball superbly, particularly on the leg side. He smashed Kevin Innes for 22 in one over with five fours and by the time he hit the winning runs off the last ball of the 38th over had hit 14 fours.

It was all the more remarkable considering that Burns' previous best score in limited-overs cricket was 58 for Somerset against Sussex in 1990.

Northants could hardly believe it. They had looked well set for their first win of the season when Darren Cousins and Lesroy Weekes claimed the first six wickets in ten overs. Then it all went wrong as Burns went on the attack and took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Earlier the Steelbacks had done well to make 172 for nine having been 88 for five at one stage. Alex Swann top scored with 47 while Jon Dakin took three of the last four wickets for 14 runs in five overs.

The win keeps the Foxes at the top of the table with a 100% record.

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