Davis and Walker Shine For Seconds On Opening Day
Tue 2 May 2023
Will Davis starred with 4/38, while Roman Walker hit an unbeaten 54 to help Leicestershire’s Second XI ascend to a dominant position against Durham on day one of their SEC clash at Kibworth.
The Foxes posted 203 all out, with Walker and SACA trialist Zen Malik (45) top scoring, before reducing Durham to 123/7 at the close.
Skipper Sam Evans lost the toss to counterpart Ben McKinney, who elected to bowl first. Evans fell in the first over, edging behind to Tom Mackintosh off Mitch Killeen with the score on three.
Nick Welch and Wiaan Mulder added 37 for the second wicket before the former was pinned LBW on 24 “ Killeen again the bowler.
Wickets fell steadily throughout the morning, as Louis Kimber (2), Harry Swindells (10), Mulder (18), and Scott Steel (9) all fell to leave Leicestershire 94/6.
Rishan Herath (2) became the seventh wicket to fall, caught McKinney, bowled Luke Robinson with the total on 103.
South Asian Cricket Academy all-rounder Malik impressed throughout the Leicestershire innings, falling five runs short of his half-century when he was bowled for 45 (7x4) by Oliver Gibson.
Roman Walker was handed the baton of moving the scoreboard forwards, clubbing eight boundaries, including a huge six off spinner George Drissell, as he reached a 64-ball half-century.
Sam Wood (4) and Davis (15) departed to end the innings on 203 all out “ Leicestershire adding 100 runs for the final three wickets, with Walker finishing on 54 not out. Seven Durham bowlers sharing the wickets between them.
Davis was soon to become the star with ball-in-hand, striking four times in ten deliveries in an incredible spell. He first removed Harry Crawshaw, caught behind by Swindells for three, with the score on 28.
The right-armer then took two wickets in his next over “ removing both McKinney (21) and Ross Whitfield (0). Jonathan Bushnell was victim number four, bowled for a single to leave Durham 34/4 having been 28 without loss.
Mackintosh and Dutch international Bas de Leede staged a recovery effort, but it was cut short by Sam Wood, who got the former caught behind by Swindells for 16. Durham now 76/5. Mitch Killeen added eight before he was bowled by Academy Scholar, and Second XI debutant, Liam Tew.
de Leede went to a 73-ball fifty before he became the 17th and final wicket of the day, trapped in front by Louis Kimber for 56. Durham ending the day 123/7, trailing by 80.
A full scorecard can be viewed HERE.
