Leicestershire are knocked out of the Quarantine Cup

Batsman Hassan Azad suffered two defeats in the video game battle being played out between 11 counties on the Cricket 19 game, meaning a top-two finish in Group Two and a place in the semis was beyond him.

Sunday’s 26-run defeat to Kent came after last week’s three-run loss against Sussex.

Competing at Lahore, Kent - controlled by Imram Qayyum - posted 79-2, with Leicestershire mustering 42-5 in the competition, hosted by The Cricketer.

“It was pretty atrocious, there’s no point mincing words about it,” Azad said.

“We were absolutely atrocious in the field. We spoke after the last game about bringing energy back into our play but there were lingering demons in the field today.

“We started the season really well but we had a couple of close games, which we came close to winning, we just didn’t have the extra five percent the top teams offer, to get over the line.

“If we’d won against Sussex it might have affected things further on in the tournament, but it was unfortunately not to be.”

Last Wednesday Leicestershire suffered a three-run defeat against Sussex in a free-scoring match up.

Playing in Durban, Sussex posted 72-3 with Leicestershire falling short with 69-4.

Tymal Mills led the Sharks to a three-run triumph, his 72 setting a competition record.

Azad attempted to match the score but fell just short.

“I can’t lie to you, it was a tough dressing room to walk back into at the end of the game,” Acad told The Cricketer. “I thought we played some really good cricket, we came really close but it just got away from us at the end.

“We felt like we were in the game going into the final over. Harry Dearden hit those sixes to bring us right back in and giving us a really good chance of coming away with a win, but it wasn’t to be.”

Leicestershire began their campaign by beating Surrey, but then suffered three straight defeats to Glamorgan, Sussex and Kent.