Marsterful Sarwan century lifts Leicestershire to victory

LEICESTER, England, CMC – Out-of-favour West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan stroked a fantastic even hundred to propel Leicestershire to a dramatic four-wicket win over Worcestershire in the Clydesdale Bank 40 Championship here  yesterday.

Needing 16 from the last over chasing 215 for victory in a game reduced to 31-overs per side at Grace Road, Leicestershire got home off the last ball when Rob Taylor struck a boundary with the hosts requiring two to win.

The right-handed Sarwan, who has not played for West Indies in a year, put on 43 for the first wicket with Joshua Cobb (21) before adding another 66 for the second wicket with Greg Smith (34).

Sarwan also posted 46 for the third wicket with Michael Thornely (21) before being one of three wickets to fall in the 20th over with Leicestershire still 29 runs shy of their target.

It was then left to an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 31 off 28 balls between Taylor and Will Jones (7), to see the Foxes to victory.

Earlier, left-handed Australia batsman Phil Hughes top-scored with 57 as Worcestershire tallied 214 for five after being put in.

The century was Sarwan’s second and coincided with Leicestershire’s second straight win in the 40-over competition.

Last month, he hit 115 in a 43-run loss to the Netherlands.