'Speechless' Nixon overjoyed

Paul Nixon has set his sights on a Champions League swansong after Leicestershire triumphed in the Friends Life t20 final against Somerset.

The veteran wicketkeeper lit up the Edgbaston final with a stunning diving catch to dismiss dangerman Kieron Pollard as the Foxes prevailed by 18 runs.

Nixon proclaimed himself "speechless" immediately after the game but, predictably, the Cumbrian - whose career would have come to an end had his side been beaten in their semi-final Super Over earlier in the day - quickly gave the lie to that statement.

"We've got to go to the Champions League now, haven't we?" he said on Sky Sports 1 HD. "I'm hoarse. We've worked so hard.

"I'm going to have a headache tomorrow. I'm going to have a great night!"

On his wonderful catch, the 40-year-old said: "It was 1988 again, wasn't it? It's nice when they stick.

"Mr Pollard is a serious player. I was at Trent Bridge when he hit one over the stand...I've never seen a six like it. To catch him was a nice moment.

He paid tribute to his team-mates as well, adding: "A thought for the likes of Harry Gurney today. He never got a game tonight but he kept us in the competition in the powerplays.

"Claude Henderson's been so consistent - he's Mr (Daniel) Vettori of English cricket, if not better. He had two (pain-killing) injections - one before the game and another when I was going out to bat.

"But we have a small squad so everybody has to come to the party and that's what we've done. Every single person in our team has won a game for us in this competition."