Leicestershire win Aon Trophy Final at Southampton

Leicestershire 2nd XI won the AON Trophy for the fourth time, when they defeated Hampshire 2nd XI at the County Ground, Southampton on Monday.

In front of a sizable crowd and warm weather, Hampshire's captain Shaun Udal decision to put Leicestershire into bat paid early dividends. Leicestershire were struggling at 59-4, only Steve Adshead holding up the home sides progress. He finally found partners in Carl Crowe, Luke Reeves and the veteran Phil Robinson, and was able to push the score to a more respectable 205. Five Hampshire bowlers took 2 wickets apiece with only Udal failing to make his mark in an expensive spell.

Hampshire had a strong batting line up. Brunnschweiler at 11 had recently made a century, so confidence was high as Stephenson and Kenway opened with a 33 run stand. Andrew Sexton and Lawrence Prittipaul took the score to 157-4 and a seemingly easy task towards victory.

What followed however was a collapse of serious proportions, as four wickets fell for six runs, including Sexton, whose 58 had looked to be taking his side towards the trophy. Hampshire's panic came from a combination of bat shot selection and good pressure from the Leicestershire bowlers and fielders. Sexton came down to a ball from Carl Crowe, and was well out of his ground when Adshead found the stumping task too easy.

A six from Chris Tremlett raised the home supporters hope, but he was last man out when attempting another big hit, and was brilliantly caught by 37-year-old Phil Robinson.