Bowley and Barnes Hit SEC Bests on Day Three
Thu 1 Sep 2022
By Pete Johnson
Career best SEC scores for Nat Bowley (71) and Ed Barnes (67) propelled Leicestershire to a total of 325 anded avoid being in a position to be asked to follow on during day three of the SEC v Glamorgan at Loughborough Town CC. Glamorgan closed on 236-6 leading by 341 runs. An interesting fourth and final day’s play beckons, with the distinct prospect of a run chase on the agenda.
Leicestershire resumed from their overnight 177-6, trailing Glamorgan by 253 runs, Ed Barnes 10*, Roman Walker 12*. Uday Modhwadia had replaced Will Davis overnight.
Shades of impending Autumn were in the air when the players took to the field. A sprinkling of stalwart spectators sparsely assembled around the boundary edge. Walker (16) 33b went in the 5th over of the morning, caught at mid-wicket by Ben Kellaway off the bowling of Ben Morris.
Nat Bowley joined Barnes, and the pair posted a partnership of 109, in the process of which the follow-on target was passed. Bowley produced a number of cover, and off drives straight out of the textbook. A half-century partnership between the pair came up from 68 balls, when the score reached 239-7 from 70.2 overs.
Bowley went to his 50 (11x4) 56b, when he clipped Tejid Phillips down to the unguarded third man boundary. Six of the 11 boundaries in Bowley’s half century having been taken off seamer Joe Cooke, three of them in one over. Bowley was in ‘Master Chef’ mode when facing Cooke’s bowling!
Glamorgan took the new ball at the end of the 80th over. Barnes went to his 50 (6x4) 110b when he guided a delivery from Zain Hassan down to the long leg boundary. Barnes took two huge maximums during Hassan’s first three overs with the new ball. A far cry from the lugubrious demeanour that Barnes silhouette suggests to the naked eye when he is at the crease.
During Barnes’ onslaught the 100 partnership was achieved by the pair from 144b, the score on 291-7 from 82.6 overs. Barnes taking 13 runs from Hassan’s second over with the new ball. Hassan having only conceded 11 runs in his previous 10 overs.
Barnes (67) 124b eventually went lbw to Hassan a few overs before Lunch. Leicestershire 298-8 from 84.3 overs. A career best SEC score for Barnes, who came to the crease at 5.42pm on day two, eventually dismissed at 12.49pm on day three. They will be dancing in the streets in Leeds, especially near to Elland Road!
Freddie Fallows joined Bowley, the pair successfully guiding Leicestershire into Lunch on 302-8 from 87 overs. Bowley 53*, Fallows 1*. An unfortunate hiatus within the much revered catering operation led to an extended luncheon interval, 60 minutes, at the umpires’ discretion, being taken as opposed to the regulation 40 minutes.
Glamorgan took 7.1 overs after lunch to wrap up the Leicestershire innings, Bowley doing a good job in taking the majority of the strike. The legendary Loughburian, protecting the tail, and bringing his mathematical dexterity to the fore, taking singles off the 5th ball of three consecutive overs! I better start looking over my shoulder if he can count like that!
Fallows (5) 22b went caught at second slip by Cooke off Hassan. Bowley was now hitting out with abandon, and finally holed out to long off from a delivery from Hassan. Bowley (71) 95b a SEC career best for Bowley, to go in tandem with career best SEC bowling figures that he posted earlier in the season. Leicestershire 325 all out from 94.1 overs, trailing by 105 runs. Josh Hull (0*) 5b. Zain Hassan catching the eye with his seam bowling, taking 4-40 from 16.1 overs.0
Glamorgan commenced their 2nd innings at 2.40pm, and were reduced to 34-2 after 11.5 overs. Barnes picking up both wickets, bowling Cooke (1) 10b, and having Tom Bevan (25) 35b caught behind by Sam Bates, who had taken the gloves for the 2nd innings.
In the last over before tea, Harry Friend (14) 60b was bowled by Bowley. Glamorgan into Tea on 50-3 from 20.4 overs. Barnes and Bowley featuring strongly again, but this time with the ball.
Ben Kellaway joined Callum Taylor after tea, and the pair posted a 50 partnership from 44b, the score on 102-3 from 27.6 overs. In the next over, Taylor posted his second half century of the match (10x4) 44b.
Kellaway (22) 31b was lbw to Walker, the score on 120-4 from 30.5 overs. Taylor (75) 70b also went lbw, this time to left arm seamer Josh Hull, a member of LCCC Academy. Hull taking his first wicket for the 2nd XI. Dan Douthwaite (20) 17b was caught by Bates off Uday Modhwadia, leaving Glamorgan on 184-6 from 41.2 overs. Modhwadia previously having picked up wickets for the 2nd XI in past seasons.
Tom Cullen and Andy Gorvin then built a partnership. Cullen went to his 50 (4x4/1x6) at exactly a run a ball, Cullen’s second 50 of the match also, and the Glamorgan skipper brought up a 50 partnership with Gorvin from 44b, the score on 234-6 from 48.4 overs.
Only a further 1.2 overs play was possible as at 6.24pm the umpires took the players from the field as a result of the failing light. Only four overs remained, and play was subsequently called off for the day. Glamorgan 236-6 from 49 overs, leading by 341 runs. Cullen (52*) 50b, Gorvin (21*) 20b. Leicestershire 5 points, Glamorgan 6 points.
I shall not be in attendance at Loughborough on Day 4 due to prior commitments, but on behalf of Leicestershire CCC I would like to thank Ed, the Groundsman at Loughborough Town CC for all his hard work both, before, during, and after each days’ play. Also thank you to Hannah and Linzi for all their hard work too on the catering side. Finally, not forgetting the many volunteers at Loughborough Town CC who have contributed to hosting the match for us.
