County Championship: Niall O'Brien hits 87 in Foxes win

Niall O'Brien has hit six half-centuries in the Championship this season

A fine half-century from Niall O'Brien helped Leicestershire to a three-wicket win over Derbyshire at Grace Road.

Resuming on 56-4 chasing a target of 273, O'Brien and Aadil Ali extended their fifth-wicket stand to 138 before O'Brien was lbw to Mark Footitt for 87.

Ali (42) shared a fifty partnership with Andrea Agathangelou but both fell quickly to leave the hosts 238-7.

However, Ben Raine's 31 not out off 37 balls saw the Foxes to 273-7 and their second Division Two win of the season.

Earlier, Irishman O'Brien's marvellous counter-attacking innings came off just 128 balls and contained 12 fours.

His wicket, followed by those of Ali and Agathangelou (32) when well set, left Leicestershire needing 35 more to win with three wickets in hand.

But 23-year-old Raine and Australian Clint McKay hit a flurry of boundaries to seal victory.

Despite taking 22 points from the game, Leicestershire are still 16 points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Leicestershire head coach Andrew MacDonald:

"They showed great belief, which is something we spoke of throughout the game. It's amazing when you get a couple of partnerships how quickly things can change.

"Niall O'Brien batted outstandingly well, and to have a youngster apply himself in the way Aadil Ali did for 198 deliveries was something he will only grow from.

"We never lost back-to-back wickets, and we came away with the points."

Derbyshire director of cricket Graeme Welch:

"We played a lot of good cricket, but they should have been chasing 340 or 350.

"But we still played decent cricket - we're just maybe three per cent or four per cent short of where we should be.

"The pitch flattened out a little bit on the final day too, though we could have bowled a bit straighter."