A night to remember for the Foxes

It is fair to say that Leicestershire Foxes all-rounder Ben Raine has had a week that he won't forget in a hurry.

The 26-year-old received his county cap before the recent game against Notts Outlaws and then played the innings of his life during Friday night’s epic win at Birmingham Bears. A highlights video of Raine's hundred is available through the ECB website HERE

Club Vitality Blast records were shattered across the board, with ten of the best statistics outlined below:

 

229	for 5 - Leicestershire Foxes’ highest total
142	Ben Raine and Mark Cosgrove shared three Foxes partnership records - highest all-time for the third wicket, second largest alliance in T20, and the most runs for any wicket against the Bears
113	Raine’s career-best score and highest individual score for the Foxes
100	Biggest margin of runs victory in T20 for the Foxes
41	Balls faced by Raine to reach three figures, fastest ever Foxes hundred
21	Balls faced by Raine to post 50, joint third fastest Foxes half-century
10	Raine's total sixes - the most hit an an individual innings
9	Foxes wins in 11 T20 games at Edgbaston including the super over win against Lancashire Lightning in 2011
4	for 20 - Callum Parkinson's career-best T20 figures
2	Second fastest hundred by an English batsman in T20

 

It was a proud night for the whole club, and especially Raine, who received a standing ovation from home supporters as well as the Foxes faithful.

He said: “It was one of those night when everything came off. You have got to back yourself and I am not worried when I come up against good teams like these.

“I have put a lot of hours of batting in with our coaches, especially Nico [Head Coach Paul Nixon] and [Assistant Coach] John Sadler who have been excellent.

“All of the coaches have come up with a lot of strategies for my white-ball game and I have come up with a method which has been working for me this season. I’ve asked the question if I could bat higher and I took my chance at Worcester in the one-dayer.

“I knew I had it in me, but obviously I wasn't expecting this to happen tonight, it was incredible. I loved every minute of it.”

Leicestershire Foxes coach Paul Nixon has seen many things in Vitality Blast during his long and successful time with the Foxes – but nothing quite like that!

“We brought our A-game to Edgbaston. Mark Cosgrove batted really well to give us momentum but then Ben Raine – wow,” he said.

“It was incredible hitting with eight fours and 10 sixes. It's bonkers isn't it - what's this game coming to?

“We moved him up the order because he strikes a clean ball and has always been a dangerous player. If the ball is up there he can hit it back over your head, he can punish the short ball and strike it over extra cover. He sees the ball well, has been practicing well and has an air of belief about him that is magical.

“We had talked about the need for multi-boundary overs and we nailed it. That hurts teams massively. It was an unbelievable effort all round.”

The Foxes sit fourth in the table having collected four points from four games and is next in action against Lancashire Lightning at the Fischer County Ground on Wednesday night.

With the summer holidays now having started, Nixon is hoping for a third successive big crowd at the home of Leicestershire cricket.

He said: “T20 nights at home are always special occasions and we are all looking forward to it. It’s great value for a family ticket and there is lots of fun stuff going on around the ground, so please come down to support the Foxes as you always do.”

* The best value tickets for the visit of Lancashire Lightning are available in advance – a family ticket for 2 adults and 3 under 16s is available for £37 ahead of the fixture. Secure your seat at the Fischer County Ground today HERE