Cliff hits new heights

25 August 2008

Sam Cliff claimed career-best figures as a youthful Leicestershire side beat Derbyshire by six runs with an over to spare in their NatWest Pro40 Division Two clash at Grace Road.

The 20-year-old seamer took 4-26 as the Phantoms were dismissed for 177 after Leicestershire had posted a total of 183 for nine

Teenager James Taylor top-scored for the Foxes with an unbeaten 43, and 19-year-old wicket keeper Joel Pope claimed two catches and a stumping on his debut.

But Derbyshire came close to snatching victory in a tight match, with opener Chris Rogers making 61 and Tom New an unbeaten 36.

New is on loan at Derbyshire from Leicestershire, and also did well behind the stumps by picking up three catches.

Sam Cliff returned figures of 4-26 to set up Leicestershire's six-run triumph

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Leicestershire, having won the toss, made a poor start to their innings, losing Matt Boyce in the first over as New collected the first of his catches off Ian Hunter.

Jacques du Toit fell in the ninth over with the total on 31, skying a catch to mid-on off Jonathan Clare.

The Derbyshire attack continued to make inroads, with Greg Smith and Jim Allenby back in the pavilion shortly after, and it needed a fifth-wicket stand of 52 in 11 overs between teenager Josh Cobb and Dillon du Preez to ease the hosts’ nerves.

But wickets continued to fall, and at 135 for six, Leicestershire looked in danger of failing to post a competitive score.

Taylor hit a sparkling 43 off 42 balls, including two sixes, as Leicestershire added 48 valuable runs in the last five overs, including 23 off the last two.

Despite the efforts of Rogers and New, Derbyshire struggled to keep up with the rate, losing their first three wickets in seven overs to Cliff.

Rogers was sixth out, having faced 85 balls, and, despite New's late resistance, Leicestershire clinched their first win of the season in the competition when du Preez bowled Nayan Doshi with the last ball of the 39th over.

There were two wickets apiece for du Preez, Garnett Kruger and Claude Henderson.