Foxes beat Durham in Blast after career-best figures from Ahmed

Rehan Ahmed notched career-best figures as the Leicestershire Foxes gave their Vitality Blast campaign a crucial boost with a 51-run victory over Durham in their clash at Seat Unique Riverside.

Wiaan Mulder was the key man with the bat for the Foxes, scoring 54 from 33 balls after the visitors appeared to be in danger at 80 for six.

The South Africa international timed the ball to perfection with four boundaries and two sixes to elevate his team to a defendable total of 157 for nine from their 20 overs.

Durham struggled throughout their chase and were always behind the rate, increasing the pressure in the middle.

Ahmed tormented the home side with wrist-spin on a slow surface with figures of four for 22, while Callum Parkinson (three for 16) and Mulder (two for 16) were also on point to bowl their side to a victory that keeps the Foxes’ hopes alive in the North Group.

Durham's AJ Tye said after the defeat to Leicestershire: "We just can't seem to string a full game together at the moment.

"We need to find a way to perform with the bat and ball.

"I think there was a lot of room for improvement tonight on both sides of the ball.

"I thought we bowled well in patches, the rest of the team fielded well, but I let the team down in the field.

"We're not far away, but if we want to play in the quarter-finals we have to be better than that.

"I said at the half-way stage I thought it was a below-par score.

"They probably bowled a lot better than we did.

We didn't have anyone that went in and got set and adapted to the pitch.

"It's probably been our downfall even when we have had set batters in they've found ways to get out before the job is done.

"As a group we need to be better.

"Hopefully, I can find a way to keep contributing and we can get a win under our belts.

"I would be quite happy enough to bowl four overs without getting a wicket if the team was winning, that's more important than any personal stats."