Gurney downs Hawks

Benning: half-century for Leicestershire.

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• Hampshire
• Leicestershire

Harry Gurney took a career-best five for 24 as Leicestershire Foxes claimed a 14-run victory over Hampshire Hawks.

James Benning and Jacques Du Toit laid foundations for the Foxes' win by posting a season's best opening stand of 114, as Leicestershire posted a challenging 241 for three.

Both batsmen hit half-centuries and despite an excellent innings of 62 from James Vince, Hampshire's victory hopes were shattered by 23-year-old left-arm seamer Gurney, who took four wickets for three runs in nine balls as the Hawks slumped to 227 for nine.

Benning reached his half-century off 50 balls while Du Toit went to 50 off 69 balls. The two of them picked up plenty of boundaries, with a straight six by Benning off Liam Dawson bringing up the hundred in the 18th over.

But Benning was brilliantly stumped by Michael Bates having made 62 off 58 balls, with six fours and a six, out of the opening partnership of 114 in 20 overs.

Top-scored

Du Toit top-scored with 84 off 109 balls before skying a catch to the long-on boundary off the bowling of Benny Howell and Hampshire's only other success was James Taylor, who was caught off Sean Ervine for 34.

Josh Cobb hit a brisk 43 off 27 balls to boost Leicestershire's total and it was then left to the home attack to take centre stage.

Gurney was the star, claiming the wicket of opener Phil Hughes with a superb delivery in his first over and then clinching victory for the Foxes with a sensational nine-ball spell that brought him the four wickets at the end of the innings.

Vince top-scored with 62 before being brilliantly stumped by Tom New off Matthew Hoggard but from 202 for four, the Hawks slumped to 227 for nine in the final five overs.