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Maddy inspires Foxes to cup glory

Darren Maddy was the star of the show as Leicestershire beat Nottinghamshire by four runs to win the Twenty20 Cup.

Maddy (86) became the first man to score 1,000 runs in Twenty20 and Jim Allenby hit 64 as the Foxes made 177-2 - the tournament's highest final score.

Stephen Fleming struck 53 and David Hussey 37 to give Notts a good platform before they fell in quick succession.

Samit Patel and Mark Ealham blazed away but once they went it fell apart and the Foxes added to their 2004 triumph.

It confirmed their status as the premier exponents of the shortest form of cricket and Maddy - who made the highest individual score of the four finals - was fittingly the major player.

He was dropped on only 13 by Gareth Clough at backward point and made Nottinghamshire pay with a superbly crafted innings which combined quick running and good placement with some hefty blows.

The 32-year-old brought up a high-quality fifty off 41 balls with a superb straight six off Mark Ealham and found a perfect ally in Jim Allenby.

The Australian youngster, who survived a run-out attempt from Paul Franks to mix raw agression with some quite sublime timing to reach his half century off 36 deliveries.

Their positive attitude led to a century stand off only 63 balls and shook Notts out of the ruthless efficiency they had shown to dump out favourites Surrey in the semi-finals.

Errors continued to come from Notts - Samit dropped Maddy on 74 at deep mid-wicket - before Allenby fell after a good flat return from Shreck was collected by Read.

A late flurry from young Paul Harrison and Maddy left Notts with a stiff challenge but Fleming and Graeme Swann made light of that as they punished a wayward Ryan Cummins to give the Outlaws a good start.

England prospect Stuart Broad was right on the button again but Fleming was middling the ball impressively as the 50 came up early in the seventh over and Notts were cruising before Maddy trapped Swann lbw.

Hussey started at a blistering pace and the overseas duo were determined not to let the spinners dictate terms, clearing the in-field regularly.

Fleming brought his fifty off 35 deliveries and things looked bleak for Leicestershire skipper Jeremy Snape but he and his side were given a lucky boost when his full-toss was helped by Fleming to long-leg where Cummins took a fine catch.

That was followed by Hussey driving straight to cover to give Broad a wicket in his final over and suddenly the momentum had swung dramatically the other way, especially when Read top-edged a sweep off Henderson and Broad pouched the catch.

Inexplicably, Snape brought back Cummins and Patel and Ealham launched a barrage of big shots to provide another twist.

Leicestershire kept their cool and as wickets tumbled in the closing overs, secured bragging rights in the East Midlands.

Maddy took two catches to leave no-one in any doubt that this was his day.

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