Andrew ends Royals' travel sickness

Gareth Andrew smashed 27 off 11 balls as Worcestershire Royals earned their first away win in this season’s Friends Provident t20 - against Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road.

Chasing a victory target of 143, the Royals’ cause looked desperate when they slipped to 112 for seven with three overs remaining.

However, Andrew struck four fours and a six to turn the game on its head and condemn the Foxes to their sixth consecutive home defeat.

Worcestershire made a solid start to their chase as openers Phil Jaques and Sanath Jayasuriya put on 41 before the former hit Matthew Hoggard to Wayne White at midwicket.

Gareth Andrew put in a match-winning performance as Worcestershire earned an unlikely victory over Leicestershire Foxes

Spurred on by the breakthrough, Leicestershire brought on spinners Brad Hodge and Claude Henderson.

And the move had the desired effect with the latter claiming the prized wicket of Jayasuriya before part-time spinner Hodge took centre stage, picking up 3-26 in his four overs.

The Australian removed Alexei Kervezee and Moeen Ali in the space of two balls and then completed his haul by ending James Cameron’s 13-ball stay.

His efforts proved in vain, though, as Andrew took the game away from the hosts with an assured display.

Earlier, Hodge and Jacques du Toit combined to give Leicestershire the perfect start with a 48-run opening stand.

However, Hodge was caught behind attempting to add to his boundary count off a Andrew long-hop and an excellent piece of fielding from Kervezee, who took an athletic boundary catch and threw to Cameron before falling over the rope, ensured his partner perished soon after.

Will Jefferson fell cheaply in between and Paul Nixon was needlessly run out as the Foxes lost five wickets for just 32 runs.

Moeen then saw off James Benning, Josh Cobb and Wayne White, who departed after helping Leicestershire to a respectable 142 fo eight with an enterprising 26 from 22 balls.