Barnes and Wood Put Seconds on Top
Thu 16 Jun 2022
By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire put themselves into a strong position on day three of the SEC against Worcestershire at Barnt Green. Worcestershire, after being asked to follow on, closing on 171-4 in their second innings, needing a further 218 runs to avoid an innings defeat, going into the final day.
Ed Barnes and Sam Wood both picking up three wickets in Worcestershire’s first innings. Wood claiming his first wickets for the 2nd XI with an impressive spell of three for six.
Worcestershire resumed on 107-3 in their first innings, trailing by 507 runs. Jordan Neil 26* Joe Leach 14*. Two wickets fell in the first 10 balls of the morning. Neil (26) 70b went lbw to Barnes, and then Leach (23) 28b went caught down the leg side by keeper Sam Bates off the bowling of Roman Walker. Leach unable to hang around to suck the life out of the Foxes attack. Worcestershire 120-5 from 33.4 overs.
Harry Cullen and Ollie Walker then posted a 50 partnership from 127 balls, the total on 172-5. Twenty minutes before lunch, Cullen (41) 65b was caught at short extra cover by Alex Evans off the bowling of Freddie Fallows. Worcestershire into lunch on 200-6. Walker 29*, Cameron Jones 11*.
Immediately after the restart, Wood was called into the attack, and initiated a catalogue of carnage amongst the Worcestershire batters with his right-arm medium paced deliveries. Wood bowling a devastating spell of six overs, from the Cherry Hill Road End, and picking up three wickets.
Wood’s first victim was (Ollie) Walker (29) 108b who went caught in the gully by (Roman) Walker. Mitchell Stanley (0) 10b went caught at first slip by Scott Steel, and Ari Karvelas (4) 7b was caught at cover by Rishan Herath. Worcestershire 216-9 from 71.5 overs.
Cameron Jones (29) 68b was the last man out, run out following a delivery from Nat Bowley that Fallows swooped on, and threw into keeper Bates with Jones short of his ground. Worcestershire 225 all out from 77.5 overs trailing by 389 runs.
Wood returning eye catching figures of 6-4-6-3. Barnes also taking a trio of wickets returning figures of 3-48 from 12 overs. Fallows 2-34 from 11 overs. Walker the other wicket taker with 1-29 from 10 overs. Nat Bowley, although not in the wickets returned a miserly spell of 12.5-5-15-0. Worcestershire were asked to follow on, and 48 overs remained in the day.
Ishmail Mohammed and Tom Fell opened the innings, and Mohammed (0) 16b was soon on his way, caught down the leg side by keeper Bates off Walker. Worcestershire 7-1 from 3.4 overs. Jordan Neil joined Fell. Fell and Neil put on a 50 partnership from 68 balls, and took Worcestershire into tea on 59-1 from 16 overs.
In the 4th over after tea, Fell (46) 54b was caught behind by Bates off Gavin Griffiths. Jacques Banton joined Neil. Banton (7) 29b went caught behind by Bates off Alex Evans. A superb one-handed catch by Bates, diving to his right, and taking the ball just above the ground.
All 3 wickets to fall so far, caught by Bates. The Groby Gloveman never misses a bus or a train either, as he always catches them too! Worcestershire 109-3 from 28.6 overs.
Neal went to his 50 (10x4) 81b, when the score reached 117. Joe Leach had arrived at the crease, and attempted to take on the bowling. After being dropped twice, both difficult chances, Leach (16) 28b was finally undone when he hooked a delivery from Wood, skywards down to long leg where Buzz Kemp pouched the catch, after having had time to read a couple of chapters of a book whilst waiting for the ball to fall out of the sky! Worcestershire 151-4 from 38.4 overs.
Neal (86*) 137b, and Henry Cullen (4*) 26b saw Worcestershire into stumps on 171-4, from 48 overs, still requiring a further 218 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
It was a memorable day in the field for Sam Wood whose match bowling figures so far read 10-7-11-4. A commendable days work from the aspiring Academy member.
