Azad and Rhodes Make Half-Centuries on Day Two
Wed 30 Mar 2022
Half-centuries from Hassan Azad and George Rhodes helped the Running Foxes close in on Leeds/Bradford UCCE’s first innings total by stumps on day two.
The two shared a 107-run stand for the second wicket, as Leicestershire closed on 263-7, 17 shy of the visitors’ first innings tally.
Day two’s morning backdrop was in stark contrast to the opening day’s scenery, as grey skies loomed overhead, though no rain was around to halt proceedings.
Ben Mike and Ed Barnes opened the bowling, with Leeds/Bradford resuming on 231-7. It was the former who broke the partnership, as Hishaam Khan was given out leg-before to a delivery from Mike for 16.
Barnes was unlucky not to have fellow overnight batsman Kurtis Watson out a few overs later, narrowly missing both the outside and inside edge, before an uncharacteristic drop at second slip from captain Colin Ackermann.
Watson then thumped Callum Parkinson for six in the off-spinner’s first ball of the morning. But, in an action-packed introduction to his day’s work, the Leicestershire bowler responded in perfect fashion, pinning Watson LBW the very next ball.
Soon after, the visitors declared on 280-9, giving Running Foxes openers Hassan Azad and Sam Evans around 35 minutes to negate before lunch.
The two got off to a flying start, reaching the interval on 44 for no loss after only eight overs.
The partnership passed 50 after the resumption, before Evans was pinned in front by Watson for 32 with the score on 69.
A profitable afternoon followed for Azad and new partner, George Rhodes, who got off the mark first ball by driving Watson through the off side for four.
The duo scored fluently and put on 94 runs before the tea break fell. In that time, both brought up their individual half-century landmark.
Opener Azad brought up his 50 with a cut for three, while Rhodes advanced down the track to club Nic Keast for four to earn his.
However, both set batsman fell for 65 after tea. Azad’s dismissal, edging Joe Pocklington to slip, ended a 107-run stand that had taken the Running Foxes to 176-2.
After Rhodes departed, the visitors continued to take wickets. Louis Kimber, Ackermann and Mike all fell to Sam Ellis, before Harry Swindells was dismissed for a fluent 29, feathering behind to wicketkeeper Tom Keast off the bowling of Khan.
Barnes and Parkinson guided the Running Foxes to the close on 263-7, trailing by 17. Play for the final day will begin at 11am tomorrow (Wednesday, 30 March).
