Ali steers Seconds to win in Trophy opener
Mon 27 Apr 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Yorkshire 242-7 (R Pyrah 69, RML Taylor 4-38) lost to Leicestershire 246-7 (Aadil Ali 87, MG Pardoe 62, MH Cross 46*) by three wickets.
Aadil Ali played another terrific knock after Rob Taylor took four wickets as Leicestershire Second XI started the defence of the Trophy with a three-wicket win against Yorkshire Second XI at Leicester Ivanhoe CC.
A sunny but very chilly morning greeted us when we turned up at Hinckley Road. Richard Pyrah won the toss for Yorkshire and elected to bat. County made an early breakthrough when James Pearson, operating from the Scoreboard End, rattled one into Ryan Gibson’s (4) stumps.
Dan Hodgson (7) was next to go caught at mid on by Ali from the second ball of Jigar Naik’s spell from the Pavilion End. Opener Jon Tattersall was finding the ropes on regular occasions, and began to forge a dangerous looking partnership with Pyrah.
However, Tattersall (42) became the first of four victims for Taylor, when he was caught at mid-off by Ali, Yorkshire now being 76-3 after 21 overs. Ben Ainsley (10) was then ‘all at sea’ when going lbw to Zak Chappell. Pyrah went to his half century (3x4) from 76 balls with the score on 126-4 from 33.1.
Matthew Waite was forming a good alliance with Pyrah, the pair scoring somewhat liberally. They had added 55 when the dangerous Pyrah (69) became Taylor’s second victim, caught by Ali – his third catch of the innings.
Taylor then bowled Waite (44) with the score on 221 from 47.4 overs and Tom Craddock (2) with the score on 238 from 49.2. Towards the end of the innings, there was a Leicester City ‘managerial feel’ to the bowling, Pearson at one end, and Taylor at the other. Yorkshire closed on 242-7 with Jordan Thompson 42 not out from 30 balls.
Matt Pardoe and Matt Boyce opened up for County and had added 15 when Boyce (6) was caught at cover by Tattersall, from one he struck firmly off the middle of the bat off Ashraf. Lewis Hill joined Pardoe, but was caught behind by ‘keeper Hodgson off seamer Moin Ashraf when he had made 12, leaving County on 40-2 from 8.5 overs.
Pardoe was looking very comfortable, and was keeping the scoreboard ticking over. If the scoreboard was ticking over, it very nearly exploded shortly afterwards when Ali clubbed five consecutive boundaries in Pyrah’s first over.
Pyrah was the victim of some serious pyrotechnics from Ali. This put County on 70-2 from 11 overs, with Ali picking up where he left off in the Second XI Friendly against Nottinghamshire on his home ground of Kibworth last week.
Soon afterwards Ali launched Carver for a huge maximum over long-on that disappeared out of the ground, taking the sparkle out of Carver and leaving him feeling a little flat. Not to be outdone, the solid Pardoe clouted Craddock for a further maximum.
Pardoe cruised to his 50 (6x4,1x6) from 48 balls with the score on 119-2 from 18.5 overs. Ali joined him shortly afterwards bringing up his 50 (7x4,1x6) from 44 balls, with the score on 129-2 from 22.3 overs.
The partnership had added 104 when Pardoe (62) was caught behind by Dan Hodgson off the returning Pyrah. The ex-Worcestershire man delivered the goods to put County in the driving seat. Matt Cross joined Ali, and batted beautifully, initially in a supporting role to Ali.
Ali finally went for a superb 87 when he was very well caught at cover by Pyrah, diving to his left off the bowling of Carver. County were now on 201-4 from 37.2 overs.
Cross then played a sensible and workmanlike innings, whilst there was a little wobble at the other end. Leg-spinner Craddock came on, and got two wickets in five balls, Taylor (1) and Naik (2), both being caught in the deep from balls that, putting it politely, were there to be hit. The score was now 204-6 from 38.5 overs with 38 still needed.
James Sykes joined Cross, and the pair inched their way to the finishing line before Sykes (13) was bowled by Craddock with the scores level. Chappell served up the coup de gras when he drove the first ball he received to the boundary. Cross was unbeaten with an eye-catching 46 from 54 balls (4x4). County stating their Trophy campaign with a three-wicket victory.
Sincere thanks to Leicester Ivanhoe Cricket Club for hosting the game. Especially to Sarah, Joanne and Bob for all their stirling work on the catering side, and to Dave, John and Trev for their hard work on the ground.
