Barnes Stars On Rain-Interrupted Second Day At Loughborough
Tue 29 Aug 2023
By Pete Johnson
Rain, and bad light had the upper hand on day two of the SEC between Leicestershire and Derbyshire at Loughborough Town CC, as only 45 overs were able to be bowled. During that time Derbyshire advanced to 295 all out. Youseff Bin Naeem contributing an eye catching 107. In reply Leicestershire closed on 125-4, Umar Amin undefeated on 41.
Derbyshire resumed from their overnight 252-7, Bin Naeem 91*, Mark Watt 12*. In the second over of the morning, Bin Naeem went to his 100 (11x4) 186b when he guided a delivery from Roman Walker down to the fine leg boundary. An excellent innings from the 17-year-old, who has recently represented England Young Lions against both Australia and Ireland. Certainly a young man to keep an eye out for in the future.
Bin Naeem’s innings came to an end when he was bowled by Walker for 107 (12x4) 200b. Derbyshire on 285-8 from 90.3 overs. Only one run had been added to the total when Nick Potts (1) 8b went lbw to Ed Barnes. Mark Watt (33) 43b was hitting out when the opportunity arose, but eventually holed out to a delivery from Barnes, Jake Tarling taking the catch running round from the deep extra cover boundary. Derbyshire 295 all out from 93.5 overs. Harrison Parker 1*. Barnes being then leading wicket taker for the Foxes with 3-50 from 18.5 overs.
Leicestershire commenced their reply at 11.55am, with lunch being taken at 1.10pm as 104 overs were scheduled for the day to make up for time lost on day one.
Harry Swindells and Tristran Kennedy opened the innings, and had added 25 when Kennedy (13) 19b was caught at second slip by Harry Came off the bowling of Parker. Umar Amin joined Swindells, and the pair batted circumspectly, and had added 49 runs when the luncheon interval arrived. County into lunch on 74-1 from 19 overs. Swindells 36* Amin 18*.
During the morning session I noticed that there was a gathering of just nine spectators in the ground, all huddled closely together at the Pavilion End adjacent to the nearby trees. A fine effort from each and every one of those surveyors of second eleven cricket. Today’s attendance affected no doubt by events taking place at Grace Road.
After lunch, I was multi-tasking every 10 minutes or so, by keeping a check on the score in the One Day Cup semi-final at Grace Road. It was good news from a Leicestershire point of view every time I checked the score.
Swindells (36) 61b was dismissed by the first ball after lunch, caught at extra cover by Archie Harrison off the bowling of Nick Potts. Jake Tarling joined Amin, at 2.03pm the umpires took the players from the field as rain was starting to fall. County 79-2 from 21.5 overs.
Play resumed again at 2.40pm. Tarling was dismissed from the first ball he faced after the resumption, caught at the wicket by Will Mead off the bowling of Mark Watt without scoring. Leicestershire 79-3 from 22.1 overs. Joe Johnson joined Amin.
Amin was building his innings, soaking up a fair few dot balls, interspersed with a number of boundaries, including three textbook cover drives to the boundary. Amin and Johnson had added 22 for the 4th wicket when Johnson (10) 28b was dismissed in a rather unfortunate manner. Johnson played a delivery from left arm spinner Watt forcibly off the middle of the bat.
Tarrant fielding at short leg clasped the ball with his hand as it thudded into his groin. How’s your luck, Joe? Leicestershire 101-4 from 30.3 overs. Only a further 4.3 overs were possible before bad light took the players from the field at 3.32pm.
Tea was taken, but during the interval heavy rain began to fall. At 4.33pm play was called off for the day. Leicestershire 125-4, trailing Derbyshire by 170 runs. Amin 41* Scott Steel 10*.
A full scorecard can be viewed HERE.
