Academy Star Farooq Completes Five-Fer As Seconds Mount Fightback

By Pete Johnson

Academy scholar Ali Farooq picked up his second five-wicket haul for the Foxes, while opener Sherdion Gumbs made an impressive 78 as Leicestershire fought back at Billericay CC.

Dips Patel's side closed on 196-4 in reply to Essex’s total of 493-8 dec, trailing by 277 runs after day two.

Essex resumed on their overnight 339-5, Simon Fernandes 89*, Ali Zeb 8*. In the 8th over of the morning, Fernandes went to his hundred (13x4) 184b.

However, in the next over Fernandes (101) was superbly caught by Jay Madan at deep square leg from a delivery by Matt Salisbury. Madan diving to his right and taking the ball with both hands’ inches from the ground, the ball travelling at speed in a low trajectory.

Zeb (45) was next to go, caught at first slip by Gumbs off Farooq. A well-deserved five-wicket haul for the young left-arm spinner. Essex 397-7 after 114.2 overs.

Charlie Bennett (5) soon followed pinned lbw by seamer Tommy Rex. Essex subsequently went into Lunch on 437-8. Ben Locklose 26* Tom Arnold 4*.

In the 4th over after Lunch Locklose and Arnold brought up their 50 partnership. Essex on 466-8 from 129.5 overs. At 1.57pm Essex declared on 493-8. Locklose (38*) 69b Arnold (38*) 44b. Wicket takers for Leicestershire Farooq with 5-157 from a marathon 40 overs. Nick Green 1-51 from 19, Rex 1-65 also 19 overs, and Salisbury 1-80 from 25 overs.

Leicestershire commenced their reply with a minimum of 59 overs remaining in the day. Gumbs and Usman Minhas, a brace of left handers, opened the innings for Leicestershire and built a solid platform against a pacey opening attack of Jamal Richards and Bennett.

After 16.1 overs, their 50 partnership arrived, during which Sheridon ‘The Wall’ Gumbs got off the mark from the 27th delivery he faced. Gumbs however soon came out of his shell, feasting on a number of deliveries from seamer Sam Bear en route to his 50 (9x4/1x6) 79b, County on 87-0 from 23.2 overs.

Minhas (35) 66b was playing confidently, and it was somewhat of a surprise when three overs before Tea he went caught by Bennett off the bowling of left-arm spinner Lockrose. Harry Swindells joined Gumbs, and the pair safely took Leicestershire into Tea on 98-1 from 27 overs. Gumbs 57*, Swindells 4*.

In the 9th over after Tea, Swindells (25) 36b was caught in the gully by Lockrose from a delivery by seamer Bennett. Louis Kimber (1) soon followed bowled by Bennett. Leicestershire 138-3 from 39.6 overs.

Gumbs had advanced to (78) 150b when he was caught at mid wicket by Johnnie Connell off Lockrose. Leicestershire 148-4 from 44.6 overs. Jamie Dunk and George Maddy consolidated posting a partnership of 48 in the 14 overs remaining in the day. Leicestershire closing on 196-4, trailing by 277 runs. Dunk (33*) 66b, Maddy (9*) 33b.