Foxes too cunning for Warks

Darren Maddy fought for Warwickshire © Getty Images

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Leicestershire Foxes used their expertise in short form cricket to record a second Friends Provident Trophy win in as many days with a 45-run victory over Warwickshire Bears at Edgbaston.

The game was reduced to 23 overs a side by overnight rain which suited Leicestershire, Twenty20 Cup winners in 2004 and 2006.

The Foxes posted a competitive total on a used pitch then defended it superbly with tight bowling and aggressive fielding.

The inclusion of Ian Bell did not help Warwickshire's cause - the England batsman got to three before being caught behind driving at Dillon Du Preez.

Bell, given permission by England to play in this match last week having initially opted to play only LV County Championship cricket before the first Test, led a charmed life.

A top-edge off Garnett Kruger dropped between three fielders and Bell was dropped by Jim Allenby at extra cover off Du Preez two balls before he was dismissed.

Only Darren Maddy, with a battling 29 against his former county, threatened to disrupt Leicestershire's victory march - but he fell top-edging Nadeem Malik to third man.

Warwickshire only just managed to avoid their previous lowest score in the competition, 98, also made against Leicestershire 10 years ago.

Seamer Ryan Cummins was the pick of the Leicestershire attack with three wickets for 21 runs.

Overnight rain seeped under the sheets covering the square and soaked the pitch prepared for this game and no play was possible before 4.30pm.

Warwickshire were given permission to use the strip used for last week's championship game between the sides - but the long delay tested the patience of the Bank Holiday crowd on a warm afternoon.

Leicestershire found the going tough after they were put in and HD Ackerman was soon stumped by England wicket keeper Tim Ambrose giving slow left-armer Ant Botha the charge.

Jacques Du Toit upper cut Tim Groenewald for six on his way to 34 before he pulled Maddy to deep midwicket.

Maddy rotated his bowlers cleverly and made 12 changes in an attempt to unsettle Leicestershire.

It was a tactic that worked for a while as Jonathan Trott snared Paul Nixon in his first over when Maddy held a straightforward catch at midwicket.

But Allenby and former South Africa batsman Boeta Dippenaar rebuilt the innings with a fourth-wicket partnership of 63 in 10 overs.

Dippenaar, who drove Botha for six over extra cover, fell to a superb running catch by Michael Powell at deep midwicket and Allenby was brilliantly run out by Maddy's direct hit from mid-off in the next over.