Boyce and Agathangelou post hundreds
Wed 27 May 2015
Leicestershire Second XI enjoyed a two-day friendly against Afghanistan at Wormsley this week.
The game was preparation for Afghanistan ahead of their tour to Scotland, with fixtures arranged against Leicestershire and Middlesex at the picturesque venue this week.
Conditions were played in a first-class format with each side designated to bat for 96 overs apiece and lunch and tea taken at normal times.
The tourists won the toss and batted and played well in scoring 412-5 from their 96 overs. There was a fine opening stand of 181 between Javed Ahmadi (97) and Nawaz Mangal (78), with their 50s coming from 72 balls (11x4) and 93 balls (8x4) respectively.
Both were victims of opening bowler Shozair Ali, who was the pick of the County attack with 3-52 from 16 overs.
Then followed a fine unbeaten century from captain Asghair Stanakzai, who recorded 50 from 68 balls (8x4) and his hundred from 135 deliveries with five more fours.
Leicestershire’s reply of 355-9 featured a tremendous 163 not out from Andrea Agathangelou and a fine century from Matthew Boyce (109). The duo put on 148 for the third wicket, with opener Boyce recording 50 from 56 balls (10x4) and 100 from 133 balls (18x4).
Agathangelou’s landmarks came from 98, 166 and 217 balls respectively and he struck 24 boundaries in total. The former Lancashire man saw out the final twelve overs with Chris Harwood, who ended on 6 not out from 32 balls.
There was a Second XI debut for 16-year-old wicket-keeper Harry Swindells, who conceded only two byes in the innings and then scored 25, the next highest total of the Leicestershire innings after the centuries. Afghanistan’s star bowler was Izatullah Dawlatzai (17-3-59-4)
Leicestershire would like to thank everybody involved in organising the game, and we wish Afghanistan well on their forthcoming tour.
