Jefferson powers Leicestershire win

Leicestershire 212 for 5 beat Derbyshire 196 for 8 by 16 runs
Scorecard

Will Jefferson smashed 83 off only 33 balls to set Leicestershire on their way to a third consecutive away win and send Derbyshire crashing to a third straight Friends Provident t20 defeat. Jefferson peppered the short boundaries at Queen's Park, clubbing eight sixes and five fours in the highest individual innings this season for the Foxes, who racked up their best score in this summer's competition, 212 for 5.

Skipper Matthew Hoggard then took three wickets for 38 runs as the Falcons came up 16 short on 196 for 8 despite a late charge from Steffan Jones who hit 40 from 22 balls. Brad Hodge and Jacques Du Toit had laid the platform for Jefferson's onslaught with an opening stand of 56 in seven overs which ended when Du Toit pulled Greg Smith to long-on.

Hodge was lbw for 39 from 27 balls sweeping Robin Peterson in the next over but the Foxes were 83 for 2 at the halfway point and Jefferson found his range by pulling both bowlers into the crowd.

Although James Taylor was bowled aiming a reverse pull at Garry Park, Jefferson and Paul Nixon took 22 from the seamer's next over as the Falcons' fielding became increasingly ragged. Jefferson pulled Park for six to bring up a 22-ball fifty and he smashed three more sixes off Wes Durston's only over before Park held a great catch on the run at long-on.

The fourth wicket pair had plundered 65 in four overs and despite the departure of Jefferson, Nixon and James Benning scored 35 from the last three overs to leave the home side chasing the highest Twenty20 total made at Queen's Park.

Loots Bosman and Durston launched the reply with some blazing strokes as Nathan Buck was driven high into the sightscreen by Bosman, who was batting with a runner after he hurt a knee fielding.

The openers scored 56 from the first five overs but after driving Hoggard for another six, Bosman was bowled for 29 and the former England paceman knocked back Chesney Hughes' middle-stump with his next ball. When Durston was superbly caught by Benning at point for 24, three wickets had fallen on 56 and Hoggard struck again 10 runs later when Smith was stumped giving him the charge.

Former Leicestershire batsman John Sadler hit two sixes in a 22-ball 39 but after he lofted Buck to long-on, the Falcons needed 45 off the last two overs. Jones went down swinging by driving Nadeem Malik for two fours and a six over the press tent off the first three balls of the final over.

However, the Foxes were never really threatened and a fifth away victory lifts them above the Falcons in the North Group