Leicestershire let title slip from their grasp

Emotions ran high at Trent Bridge where the home side avoided relegation by beating Leicestershire - a result which meant the Norwich Union League title slipped from the visitors' grasp.

A successful pursuit of their 186-run victory target brought Notts the win they needed for safety while Kent snatched the title away from Leicestershire by beating Warwickshire.

Darren Bicknell won the toss for the home side, inserted Leicestershire, and then played his part in an impressive reply. Along with John Morris, he helped add 71 for the first wicket, although it was Morris who led the charge with a typically robust 57.

His half-century came from just 43 deliveries, with 10 boundaries as the bowling was put to the sword. Scott Boswell, so wayward and expensive in the C & G Final, again experienced problems with the ball - going for 18 off his only over and he then immediately left the field.

Needing a lifeline, Leicestershire were gifted their first wicket in the 14th over. Bicknell turned Vince Wells behind square but straight to Darren Stevens. Morris had backed up so far he couldn't respond quickly enough to his captain's refusal of the run and was unable to make his ground.

At the end of his final innings Morris received a standing ovation from the large crowd. Bicknell and Greg Blewett then took the game away from their local rivals before the home skipper holed out to Aftab Habib, off Carl Crowe.

Later in the same over Blewett also fell to Crowe, smartly stumped down the legside by Neil Burns. The Australian was also making his Notts farewell, and also received a terrific hand from the home members.

Nerves were soon increased as Crowe struck twice more in quick succession to send Usman Afzaal and Bilal Shafayat both back cheaply.

As so often this season Kevin Pietersen showed considerable maturity, and some attractive strokeplay by him and by Chris Read, propelled the Outlaws to victory.

News of events elsewhere soon spread to the Foxes and their supporters, who had seen two pieces of silverware snatched from their grasp in the closing weeks of the season.

Earlier in the day the Foxes had found runs hard to come by as they struggled to 185-9 from their 45 over allocation.

After limping along to 39-2 at the end of the 15th over they were indebted from 40s by both Neil Burns and Darren Maddy for eventually reaching a competitive total. AJ Harris was the pick of the home bowlers, ending with figures of 4-24.