Foxes claim bragging rights after seeing off the Outlaws

AHMED HITS HIS MAIDEN T20 HALF-CENTURY IN FOXES WIN

- writes Jon Culley.

LEICESTERSHIRE Foxes climbed to second place in the North Group table after an emphatic Vitality Blast victory over East Midland rivals Notts Outlaws at the Uptonsteel County Ground

Chasing a modest 157 on what looked a good pitch, the home side eased home by four wickets with 14 balls to spare thanks to a maiden T20 half-century from England's Rehan Ahmed.

He smashed 52 from 37 balls, sharing a 69-run fourth-wicket partnership with Foxes skipper Louis Kimber (35 off 15 balls).

The Outlaws were bowled out for 156 in 19.3 overs, which always looked too few, with no one bettering Lyndon James's 30 from 26 balls.

Daniel Sams hit three sixes in his 28 from 17 balls but the Foxes were impressive with the ball, led by Logan van Beek (three for 15) and Tom Scriven (two for 18).

Spinners Matt Montgomery and Calvin Harrison took two wickets each, the latter holding three catches, but the Outlaws never threatened to deny Leicestershire a fifth win of the season, with their own qualification hopes in the balance.