PRO40 DIVISION TWO, Grace Road:
Kent 211-7 beat Leicestershire 209-8 by 3 wkts (Kent 2pts)

Taylor's innings was in contrast to a poor Leicestershire performance

James Taylor's superb innings of 95 proved to be all in vain as Kent beat Leicestershire with just two balls to spare in a thriller at Grace Road.

The highly-rated ex-England Under-19 batsman hit his second highest one-day score as the Foxes totalled 209-8.

But, after Kent looked likely to fall short, young stand-in wicketkeeper Paul Dixey kept his nerve.

He hit a six and a four off successive balls from James Benning's final over to see Kent home by three wickets.

It was Kent's second win in three Division Two games but Leicestershire stay bottom after a third straight defeat.

Earlier, the highly promising Taylor struck nine boundaries in his 113-ball knock before being run out by a brilliant throw from Justin Kemp.

That represented a good recovery by the home side after Azhar Mahmood had removed openers Benning and Matt Boyce in his first three overs with only 19 on the board.

But 19-year-old Taylor and 38-year-old Paul Nixon, the former England keeper recalled to the side as a batsman only, began the fightback with a third-wicket stand of 59.

Taylor, in prime form over recent weeks, was the dominant partner. And when Nixon fell to a catch off the bowling of Darren Stevens, Taylor and Boeta Dippenaar continued the good work with a partnership of 98 in 19 overs.

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