Matthew Hayden’s undefeated 96 took Northamptonshire to victory by 4 wicketswith nine balls to spare over Leicestershire at Grace Road

Staff and agencies16-Jul-2000
Matthew Hayden punishes Leics for missed chances
Photo © AllSport UK
Matthew Hayden’s undefeated 96 took Northamptonshire to victory by 4 wicketswith nine balls to spare over Leicestershire at Grace Road. It was his firstNational League half-century of the summer and the Australian left-handercelebrated by hitting three sixes and eight four from 110 deliveries in thechase for 188 runs.The target was less than it had appeared it would be at one time – however Leicestershire’s last six wickets toppled for 26 runs in seven overs.Quick bowlers Darren Cousins and Tony Penberthy took three wickets apiece insnatching away the advantage Phil DeFreitas and Aftab Habib had seemed togain by putting on 73 in 16 overs. Habib hit 70 from 109 balls with a sixand four fours, but his dismissal brought about the collapse. In the nextover DeFreitas was run out for 40, and then the remaining batsmen followedeach other out in procession.The batting jitters continued into Northamptonshire’s innings with AdrianRollins caught magnificently before he had scored by Darren Maddy in JamesOrmond’s opening over. The same bowlers had Mal Loye taken at slip. And ifany of the three chances offered by Hayden had been taken they would havebeen in serious trouble.He and David Sales pulled the game round with a 70 runs stand for the third wicket. Although few other batsmen stayed with him Hayden lasted the distance to make his highest score in the National League in a summer and a half with Northamptonshire. He took 72 balls to reach his half-century with six fours, and hit three sixes to win the match.