Foxes suffer first RLODC defeat

RESULT | Royal London One-Day Cup game 2: Leicestershire Foxes 316 for 9 lost to Notts Outlaws 409 for 7 by 93 runs

SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo

REACTION | Tom Wells spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae after the game

HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season

POINTS | Leicestershire Foxes 0, Notts Outlaws 2

REPORT | Tom Wells and Callum Parkinson made career-best scores but Notts Outlaws produced a strong performance to inflict a first Royal London One-Day Cup defeat on Leicestershire Foxes.

The Outlaws became the second team to score more than 400 in a List A game at the Fischer County Ground following Leicestershire CCC's 406 for 5 against Berkshire in 1996.

Samit Patel posted a sparkling century, and Riki Wessels, Tom Moores and Chris Nash all made fifties as the Outlaws posted 409 for 7, Neil Dexter returning fine figures of two for 50 from his allocation.

A required run rate of 8.2 was always going to be tough but the Foxes, led by Wells (69, 78b), Parkinson (52*, 54b) and Dexter (45, 41b), showed intent throughout the innings and ended at 316 for nine.

Leicestershire Foxes won the toss and elected to bowl on a bright but cool morning at the Fischer County Ground.

Wessels got the Outlaws off to a flyer, striking 50 off 33 balls including five fours and a quartet of sixes.

While Wessels struck the ball cleanly all around the ground, Nash got settled and was particularly impressive driving down the ground and over the top.

The opening alliance yielded 118 in 15 overs before Wessels (76, 44b) cut Dexter's very first delivery to Mark Cosgrove at backward point.

Nash reached 50 with his first six in the 20th over - the 57-ball landmark also included seven fours - but the batsman departed for 56 (62b) in the next over when pulling Gavin Griffiths to Colin Ackermann at deep mid-wicket.

Outlaws moved to 171 for 2 at halfway as another stand developed between Moores and New Zealand international Ross Taylor. Moores struck four boundaries in the 27th over as he moved to a 44-ball 50 (6x4, 1x6).

Dexter came on for a second spell and struck again when bowling Taylor (25, 36b). The all-rounder completed his work with fine figures of 10-0-50-2 before Griffiths returned and immediately enticed Moores (76, 62b) to drive to Paul Horton at mid-off.

At 260 for 4 with 13.5 overs left, Mullaney and Patel had licence to play their shots and put on 80 in seven overs. The duo hit the ball powerfully with Patel moving to 50 off 38 balls (6x4, 1x6) with a clean straight boundary.

Varun Aaron had Mullaney (29, 21b) caught by Carberry running around at extra cover but Patel continued to play well, progressing to a superb 100 off 62 deliveries (14x4, 2x6).

His innings came to an end in the last over of the innings, Ackermann skillfully managing to parry the ball to keep it in play on the deep extra cover boundary before returning to the field to complete a spectacular catch off Aaron. Billy Root (20, 12b) had previously been caught behind by Ned Eckersley off Ben Raine.

The Foxes had little choice but to start at tempo; however, the team lost three wickets in the first powerplay. Carberry (6, 4b) played Ball on to his wicket, Ackermann (5, 9b) skied the same bowler to Patel running back at cover, while Cosgrove (11, 13b) was bowled by Harry Gurney.

Horton (35, 37b) played some fine strokes but was unfortunate to get a feather to a leg-side delivery from Gurney, Moores taking a good one-handed catch diving away to his left.

‘Keeper Eckersley (23, 24b) holed out to Wessels in the deep off Root while Dexter, who again looked in good touch in sharing 55 with Wells, lofted the slow left arm of Patel to Wessels at long-off.

An entertaining alliance developed between Wells and Raine (35, 24b), with the left-hander striking three maximums. He then advanced to Patel and was bowled.

Wells posted 50 from 60 balls (2x4), and he and Parkinson both posted personal best scores in an eighth wicket stand worth 53, before Gurney completed his four-for by bowling Wells and Aaron (1, 4b).

Parkinson continued to strike the ball well, recording a maiden List A 50 from 51 balls (4x4) as he and Griffiths - who made a career-best 15* (13b) - took the Foxes beyond 300. The next RLODC game for the Foxes is at Derbyshire Falcons on Friday morning (11am start).

TEAM | Carberry (capt), Horton, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Eckersley (wk), Dexter, Wells, Raine, Parkinson, Griffiths, Aaron.

FIGURES | Raine 8-1-63-1, Aaron 10-0-86-2, Griffiths 10-0-83-2, Parkinson 9-0-87-0, Dexter 10-0-50-2, Wells 3-0-32-0.

PHOTO | Thanks to Ed Melia for the photograph of Tom Wells batting today.

* Leicestershire Foxes' next Royal London One-Day Cup home fixture is our Family Funday against Yorkshire Vikings on Sunday, May 27. There will be activities for the whole family - and tickets are available for just £1 each HERE