Cullen makes hundred for Seconds
Tue 18 Aug 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Young batsmen Tom Cullen and Sam Evans shared 135 for the sixth wicket as Leicestershire’s batsmen enjoyed a good first day of the friendly at Glamorgan.
The SWALEC was bathed in early morning sunshine as Leicestershire commenced the three-day encounter. Upon surveying the empty stands it is hard to imagine that some six weeks ago this place was bouncing as the first Ashes Test took place between England and Australia.
The scorers have an excellent vantage point, housed high up in the Media Centre at the Cathedral End of the ground for those of you that are familiar with the SWALEC, a ‘no go’ area for anyone who suffers from vertigo.
I have overcome my vertigo after surveying the Premier League table over the last couple of days, enjoying the lofty heights of LCFC. After a leisurely perusal of the morning papers, I settled back into my chair to observe the days events that were about to unfold in this corner of the Principality.
Leicestershire fielded a side comprising of only three contracted players, the remainder of the side consisting of members of the academy, and triallists.
Jigar Naik skippered County, lost the toss, and Dean Cosker the Glamorgan skipper invited County to bat. Eben Kurtz and Will Wright, both left handers opened up for County against an opening attack of Mat Pillans, a very pacey South African from Natal, and Andrew Westphal.
Kurtz and Wright built a solid foundation, combating the pace of Pillans well, both batsmen hitting to the ropes in successive balls, in the 9th and 11th overs respectively.
The score had progressed to 54 when Kurtz (27) edged the first ball of Palash Joshi’s spell, who had replaced Westphal at the River End to keeper Alex Milton.
Joe Kendall joined Wright but the young prospect soon departed without scoring when he was caught at square leg by Kiran Carlson off seamer Jack Murphy, who had replaced Pillans at the Cathedral End. His namesake who is the MP for Leicester West, will be hoping she gets a better return in the Labour Party Leadership ballot.
Tom Wells joined Wright, and Wells eased to 14 when he was expertly caught by Scott Thornton at third slip, diving to his left off Pillans. Michael Burgess joined Wright, and the pair took County into lunch on 101-3 from 32 overs.
In the second over after lunch, Wright (44) went caught behind by Alex Milton, another victim for Pillans. Burgess then proceeded to play some lovely shots around the wicket finding the ropes on seven occasions.
He had been joined by Tom Cullen who was about to embark on a rock like innings. Burgess (35) then proceeded to give spinner Owen Morgan the charge, and was bowled. Sam Evans joined Cullen, and the pair built a magnificent partnership.
Their 50 partnership came up after 151 balls with the score on 202-5 from 62.5 overs. Cullen went to his 50 from 86 balls (6x4) and they took County into tea on 234-5 from 76 overs.
During the afternoon session spinners Cosker and Morgan had bowled very economical spells. Glamorgan took the new ball after 80 overs and Cullen and Evans stood up to the challenge. The 100 partnership came up from 239 balls.
Evans (49) was dismissed when Pillans went round the wicket to him, and from the second ball of him doing so a vicious lifter glanced off Evans gloves and went through to keeper Alex Milton. This was a terrific innings from Evans who had shown patience and maturity beyond his years in facing 170 balls.
A well-deserved round of applause was given by the splattering of spectators to Evans. Just afterwards Cullen went to his century from 164 balls (12x4). A great effort from Cullen, who becomes something of an immoveable object when he occupies the crease.
The twilight of Cullen’s innings of 102 came when attempting a second run to the third man area. He was unable to beat Kiran Carlson’s throw to the keeper, who removed the bails with Cullen a yard or so short. There was well-deserved applause again for Cullen on his way back to the pavilion.
Alex Kent and Jigar Naik saw County through to stumps with no alarms. Kent played a solid innings making 9 not out from 42 balls. Naik went in undefeated on 22, with County closing on 320-7 from 107 overs.
Special mention to the Glamorgan spinners who turned in extremely tight figures, Cosker 0-27 off 19 overs and Morgan, certainly not a suitable case for treatment (film circa 1968), 1-25 off 16.
