Academy edged out by Tasmania

ACADEMY ROUND-UP | By Sam Chambers

Leicestershire's Academy XI lost out by the narrowest of margins when they hosted their Tasmanian counterparts in a one-day fixture at Desborough on Sunday.

Batting first at West Lodge Park, Harry Swindells' 58 (86b) helped the young Foxes to 227-8 from their 50-over allocation before their antipodean opponents claimed a thrilling one-wicket victory from the final ball.

Leicestershire found themselves up against it at 40-4 after 12 overs, but Swindells' half-century helped to steady the ship.

He was ably supported by Will Fazakerley's 46* and Tom Nightingale, who posted a useful 32 to see County recover to 227-8, L Ward, Freeman and R Ward picking up two wickets apiece for the Tasmanians.

In response, some economical bowling from the Foxes saw Tasmania get off to a slow start. They found themselves restricted to 21-1 off the first eight overs, having lost Hayes - caught Swindells off David Sayer - for 2.

Opener Hay's 24 helped to put some runs on the board but, at the halfway stage of their reply, Tasmania were still finding themselves with plenty of work to do at 95-4.

When they lost three more wickets for just 17 runs, the match was seemingly going the way of the Foxes before Kingston made his mark.

Coming in at number eight, his introduction proved to be a moment of pivotal importance in the match.

With the tourists in trouble at 133-7, and with less than 15 overs remaining, he proceeded to change the course of the match, cracking 67 from just 52 balls to give his side the momentum.

He was eventually stumped in the final over by Leo Cammish off the bowling of the impressive Tom Nightingale (8.4- 1-30-3) but by that point he had set his side on their way to claiming what looked to have been an improbable victory when he came to the crease.

Needing two from the final over, R Ward took a single from his second ball faced, then L Ward struck the winning run from the last ball of the innings to see his side to 228-9.

* Leicestershire's Academy players took on local rivals Derbyshire in an Inter County one-day fixture on June 8 but were unable to claim the bragging rights as they fell to a 26-run defeat.

Derbyshire posted an impressive total of 293-6 from their 50 overs, largely thanks to a huge third-wicket stand between captain Parkinson (76, 111b) and Bramwell (113, 123b).

The pair put on 173 in 32.5 overs before Parkinson perished, but Bramwell stuck around for another 10.1 overs until he was caught by Jack Gilford off David Sayer (10-0-59-2).

In reply, Gilford's blistering 73 from just 32 balls, along with quickfire contributions from 'keeper Leo Cammish (48, 33b) and Teddy Read (43, 39b) kept the Foxes in the hunt but they eventually came up just short when the final wicket of Blunt fell for 20 for a final score of 267 all out.