Bowlers wrap up impressive win
Wed 17 Jun 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire’s bowlers were in superb form as the team wrapped up a Championship victory against Northamptonshire at Hinckley Town/CCA.
A dull, overcast morning greeted the players when they entered the field of play for day three of this encounter.
Northamptonshire resumed on their overnight 3-0, requiring a further 269 runs to win from a minimum of 96 overs, a rate of 2.80 per over. The weather forecast said there was a chance of a shower or two in the afternoon, so an intriguing day’s play was in prospect.
During the morning session, Leicestershire completely dominated play and strangled out any life that was in the game.
Northamptonshire capitulated from 32-0 to 53-7 at lunch. It took Northamptonshire 199 balls to record their 50. The biggest danger to County was coming from dark clouds that were assembling to the west of the ground as the players walked off for lunch.
Saib and Housego survived for 12 overs of the morning session before wickets began to fall at an alarming rate of knots.
First to go was Dan Housego (16), bowled by Tom Wells, one of his stumps spiralling out of the ground. Akhil Patel (1) soon followed, in similar fashion as the impressive Conor Harvey, who had replaced Wyatt at the Football Ground End, again sent a stump airborne.
Harvey had opener Saib (14) caught by Zak Chappell at mid-on in his next over. Shortly afterwards Northants skipper David Murphy (3) became Harvey’s 3rd victim, caught behind by Lewis Hill, an excellent effort diving low to his right.
Grant Thornton then opened his account for the innings, replacing Wells at the Pavilion End. Thornton became the third bowler to remove a stump from its foundations, when a full length ball demolished Khawaja’s (4) furniture.
Thornton then removed Graeme White (0), who hit one straight to Eben Kurtz at short mid-wicket to further improve the bowler’s figures. Left arm spinner Will Holmes got in on the act just before lunch when he had Matt Plater (4) caught at slip by Wells.
Northants went into lunch in tatters on 53-7. A great effort from the Leicestershire bowlers, ably supported by the fielders, and especially Hill who put in an eye catching display behind the stumps with some excellent takes.
Upon the resumption, it took County another 9.4 overs to wrap up the proceedings. Ben Sanderson (5) went lbw to captain Wyatt, who was bowling his first spell of the match from the Pavilion End. Wyatt bowled four overs, then replaced himself with the ebullient Liam Hurt.
Hurt wrapped up the innings in the space of five deliveries. Karl Penhale (4) went caught behind by Hill, and two balls later Hurt trapped Griggs (0) in front. Maurice Chambers was not out on 16. Northamptonshire all out for 74 from 45.5 overs, Leicestershire winning by 197 runs, and taking 22 points to Northamptonshire’s 4.
The two teams will now meet at Grace Road tomorrow for two T20 fixtures with the first starting at 11.30am.
