Ali's late double boosts Seconds
Mon 15 Jun 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Fifteen wickets fell on an eventful first day of the Second XI Championship game between Leicestershire and Northamptonshire at Hinckley Town/CCA.
The start of play was delayed for 60 minutes as a result of the playing area still being somewhat damp after rainfall over the weekend.
There was a reasonable number of spectators present in readiness for an 11.00am start, but they had to wait until 12 noon for proceedings to get underway.
Alex Wyatt skippered County and David Murphy called correctly, and it was no surprise when he inserted County. Wickets fell steadily through the morning session with Leicestershire going into lunch on 90-4 from 32 overs.
Aadil Ali (6) went caught at slip off Maurice Chambers, Matt Boyce (19) was bowled by Griggs, Lewis Hill (0) was bowled by Karl Penhale, and Neil Pinner, who was the only batsman to offer serious resistance, was adjudged lbw to Penhale. His 34 runs were made patiently from 81 balls.
Tom Wells (20*) and Zak Chappell (3*) were the unbeaten batsmen at lunchtime. In the 8th over after lunch Wells (25) was another lbw victim, this time to Ben Sanderson. Chappell (18) soon followed, bowled by Chambers.
There was then a vital partnership of 39 between Eben Kurtz and trialist Conor Harvey. Kurtz was in the supporting role, playing a Brigadier Block like knock soaking up 46 balls in making five before being trapped lbw by Graeme White.
Harvey contributed 33 to the partnership and found another durable partner in Liam Hurt, the pair taking County into tea on 191-7 from 68 overs, Harvey on 48* and Hurt on 26*. Hurt took three maximums off left arm spinner White.
From the first ball after tea Hurt (26) went lbw to White. Harvey moved to an impressive 50 (9x4) from 66 balls before Will Holmes (1) became the 5th lbw victim of the innings, being trapped in front by Penhale.
Wyatt joined Harvey, and Wyatt (1) was adjudged caught in the slip cordon after a ‘Stewards’ Inquiry’ by the Umpires. Harvey was unbeaten on 59 with County being all out for 204.
Northamptonshire had 28 overs to bat and were soon reeling on 11-3. First to go was Dan Housego (2), expertly caught low down at slip by Pinner off Wyatt, who was operating at the Football Ground End.
S Zaig (2) soon followed, caught behind by Hill off paceman Hurt. Grant Thornton (not a made up name, honest) replaced Wyatt and accounted for Akil Patel (2), trapped in front.
Murphy and Zaakir Khawaja set about a repair job, and were pulling Northants round until Wyatt produced a masterstroke introducing Ali at the Pavilion End with three overs to go.
Ali had a couple of looseners with his first two deliveries that went for four and two, but with the fifth ball he produced a ripper that bowled Khawaja (23). Matt Plater (0) was then out first ball, turning Ali round the corner, only to be snaffled close in by the ever alert Boyce.
Northamptonshire closed on 66-5, being 138 runs in arrears. Murphy looked menacing as he ended unbeaten on 26*, and White was 4*. Due to the late start of 12 noon, the day’s play finished at 8.04pm… should have brought my sleeping bag.
