Leicestershire celebrate but it could have been Notts

Leicestershire won the match by four runs but the last ball, by Jim Allenby, was a full toss above waist height.

Will Smith hit it for six but had the ball been called it would have left three runs needed off one more ball.

Newell said: "I'm a little disappointed as I thought it was fairly clear, but it happens I suppose."

Reaction: Leicestershire's Darren Maddy and Stuart Broad

Reaction: Nottinghamshire captain Stephen Fleming

The coach, who led his side to County Championship glory in 2005, added: "I won't be mentioning it to the umpires. They're not going to change their minds now.

"I assume either umpire could have called it had they seen it but Leicestershire were already celebrating, so it was a tough situation and if they don't see it they don't see it."

At the end of the day the umpires were very consistent Jeremy Snape Leicestershire

Winning skipper Jeremy Snape disagreed, insisting that the decision to allow the delivery was in line with the policy the umpires had followed all day.

"I had complete faith in the umpires," he said.

"We got in a winning position and Jimmy (Allenby) - credit to him - bowled a great last couple.

"The ball was wet and the bowlers had rags to control the ball in the rain so it was hard but we've seen balls at that height all day not being called.

"At the end of the day the umpires were very consistent."

The rule is there to prevent dangerous beamers being bowled and to protect batsmen.

But in the second semi-final, an even higher full toss from Surrey's Azhar Mahmood was also permitted.