DeFreitas relives role of dynamic destroyer

Leicestershire 258-9 Nottinghamshire 159 Leicestershire win by 99 runs

At 37 and with almost 20 years' professional cricket under his belt, it might be hard for Phillip DeFreitas to convey enthusiasm with every stride he takes, but the hunger for success still burns strongly within Leicestershire's veteran captain.

Yesterday, the former England all-rounder led a 99-run Leicestershire victory by giving a masterclass in controlled aggression with the ball.

On another day, a target of 259 might have been within Nottinghamshire's scope but, after DeFreitas had torn out three of the batsmen to whom they were looking for significant input, they were always chasing an unlikely cause. Bowling his 10 overs straight through, DeFreitas finished with 3 for 20 to claim the man of the match award. He conceded a mere 10 runs in the final eight of those overs, dismissing Gareth Clough and Usman Afzaal with the help of the wicketkeeper Paul Nixon, either side of the vital wicket of Kevin Pietersen.

Having been supported well by the unflinching efforts of his new ball partner, Charlie Dagnall, DeFreitas took his sweater with half Nottinghamshire's side back in the pavilion for 62.

Only the powerful Chris Cairns, with an 82-ball 67 that contained three towering sixes, looked capable of giving the contest a different outcome. But without support it was an effort in vain. Ultimately he spooned an easy catch to short mid-wicket off the 23-year-old Jamie Grove, who possibly bowled as well as he ever has for Leicestershire.

Where the home side succeeded and the visitors failed was in mastering conditions of the kind that can both help and hinder bowlers, the ball swinging extravagantly in muggy conditions. Nottinghamshire did not apply the necessary control after putting the home side in and any inquest will focus on the 49 extras they conceded, including 21 wides. Paul Franks alone sent down seven and it was ironic that he produced the best ball of the game, an inswinging yorker that uprooted two of Brad Hodge's stumps.

Virender Sehwag's dashing half-century took first advantage, built upon productively by an industrious middle order, DeFreitas himself adding value with a brisk 22.