CB40 Bears back on winning trail

• 15/05/2011
• Match Reports

The Bears returned to winning ways in the CB40 League when defeating the Leicestershire Foxes by 8 wickets at Grace Road.

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For match scorecard click here

For ball by ball commentary click here

Jim Troughton returned to skipper the Bears at Grace Road and after missing the last two weeks with a shoulder injury put the Foxes into bat after winninh the toss.

The Foxes captained by James Taylor, lost du Toit 12 to a superb one handed catch by Ambrose off Miller, before a partnership of sixty two between Taylor and the hard hitting Josh Cobb looked to be putting them into a strong position until Taylor was run out by a smart piece of fielding from Darren Maddy for thirty two.

Cobb completed his half century but was then deceived by a slower delivery from Piolet, while Paul Best, on List A debut, drew an out of touch Matthew Boyce down the wicket to have him stumped by Ambrose for ten.

The introduction of Darren Maddy 4-29 into the attack virtually signalled the end of any further resistance from the inexperienced Foxes line-up, as he removed White and Dixey cheaply, before Best caught Kadir Ali 60 and the innings capitulated to 205-9 from their forty overs.

In reply the Bears' opening pair of Varun Chopra and William Porterfield took total control, scoring freely to all parts of the ground and quickly putting the final result beyond doubt while setting a new record opening partnership in 40 over cricket for the Bears when reaching 181 passing Amiss and Jameson's record set way back in 1973.

With both batsmen in reach of a century, Porterfield was bowled by Henderson for 95 trying to get there with a six and Chopra went, again to Henderson, chipping a return catch for 86.

Troughton and Yousaf were in no hurry and they confidently saw the Bears home to an eight wicket victory.