Maddy clears path for Foxes

Twenty20 Cup quarter-final, Leicester:
Leicestershire 180-6 beat Essex 166-7 by 14 runs

Scorecard

Maddy blasted 12 boundaries and three sixes in his 48-ball knock

Darren Maddy hit a superb 48-ball 84 to blast Leicestershire into the Twenty20 Cup semi-finals at Essex's expense.

The opener clubbed 12 fours and three sixes at Grace Road as the hosts tallied 180-6 after losing the toss.

Maddy shared in key top-order stands of 83 with Brad Hodge (23) and 40 with Darren Stevens, who hit a 29-ball 39.

The Eagles, who slumped to 33-3 early on, could manage only 166-7 despite a rousing 95-run stand between Andy Flower (58) and Paul Grayson (55).

Opening bowler Mark Cleary returned 3-36, snaring Essex skipper Ronnie Irani first ball and helping to put the visitors on the back foot early in their run-chase.

The Twenty20 Cup Finals day, which incorporates both semis and the final, will be staged at Edgbaston on 7 August.

---

Leicestershire: MF Cleary, CE Dagnall, JM Dakin, OD Gibson, CW Henderson, BJ Hodge (capt), DL Maddy, PA Nixon, JL Sadler, JN Snape, DI Stevens.

Essex: AR Adams, RS Bopara, AP Cowan, A Flower, JS Foster, D Gough, AP Grayson, RC Irani (capt), JD Middlebrook, GR Napier, ML Pettini.