Hayden smashes Leicester
AFP, Leicester
Opener Matthew Hayden smashed a century while Andrew Symonds and Damien Martyn also turned on the style as Australia crushed Leicestershire by 95 runs in a one-day clash at Grace Road here on Saturday. It was a timely win for the Aussies who face England in a Twenty20 clash at Southampton on Monday. Hayden helped himself to 107 off 96 balls while big-hitting Symonds lashed 92 off just 59 balls as the tourists raced to a massive 321-4 off their 50 overs. Martyn said that Australia are confident of a convincing performance when the one-day international series gets underway next week with the tourists set to face England in Bristol on June 19. "We really want to do well in the one-day games. We are number one in the world and we want to keep it that way," said Martyn ahead of the tri-nation series which will also feature Bangladesh. Chasing Australia's huge target on Saturday, Leicestershire struggled to 226-8 off their 50 overs after enduring a slow start to their reply, with Tom New and Darren Maddy pinned down by the accurate attack of Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath. Any hopes the home side had of an unlikely win were further dented when Brad Hogg took three wickets sending Leicestershire slumping to 120 for 6. West Indian Otis Gibson hit 50 while Paul Nixon made 43 to slow the Aussie victory march. Earlier Hayden and Martyn put Leicestershire on the rack before Symonds bludgeoned 10 fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 92.
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