T20 Blast: Anthony Ireland sinks Derbyshire with career best 5-22

Ireland has played international cricket for his native Zimbabwe

Anthony Ireland took a T20 career-best 5-22 as Leicestershire secured a five-wicket victory over Derbyshire.

He took three wickets in four balls in the final over of Derbyshire's innings after Charlie Shreck was removed for bowling two high full tosses.

Wes Durston hit a six and 11 fours in his 89, but only one other Derbyshire batsman made double figures as they were bowled out for 143.

Greg Smith's unbeaten 65 saw the Foxes to 144-5 with four balls to spare.

The win was Leicestershire's third in the T20 Blast this summer, but they remained eighth in North group, four points clear of Derbyshire, who have a record of only one victory in 10 matches.

Ireland picked up two wickets in his first two overs with the new ball, bowling Chesney Hughes and Gareth Cross.

But it was the Zimbabwean's final contribution with the ball that provided the game's talking point, having Tony Palladino and Alex Hughes caught from successive deliveries after Shreck was ordered out of the attack, and then after failing to complete a hat-trick, bowling Greg Cork two balls later.

Matt Turner was then run out by Ned Eckersley from the final ball of Derbyshire's innings, the fourth wicket of a hectic over.

Leicestershire seam bowler Anthony Ireland:

"I didn't expect to be bowling the last over when Charlie Shreck started it but that's what can happen.

"It was a good performance and Greg has been in good form for us with the bat this year, so it was nice to see him get us over the line at the end."

Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen:

"I felt we were probably 10 or 15 short. Wes played brilliantly, but we weren't able to get those extra runs at the back end.

"I thought we bowled really well in the first six overs, but ultimately we were short, another 15 runs and we would have won."