Dunk Hits Maiden Second XI Century As Leicestershire Take Control On Day Two

By Pete Johnson

Jamie Dunk’s maidan century for the second X1 grabbed the headlines as Leicestershire put themselves in an extremely strong position after dominating a curtailed days play against Northamptonshire at Peterborough Town CC.

Leicestershire posted a total of 343, leading by 163 runs in the First Innings. Jamie Dunk made 108* and Ben Mike 77. In reply Northamptonshire were 6/3 when rain stopped play.

The Foxes resumed from their overnight 117/2, Harry Swindells 24*, Ben Mike 14*. In the third over of the morning Swindells (28) was adjudged lbw to Northants seamer Arafat Bhuiyan.

Jamie Dunk joined Mike, and the pair posted a 50 partnership (75b), the score on 172/3 from 35.6 overs. In the next over Mike progressed from 38* to 50* thanks to two maximums, straight down the ground off consecutive deliveries from seamer Yashas Kochhar.

 Mike and Dunk then posted their 100 partnership in the 46th over, the score on 222/3. In the next over Mike (77) was pinned in front by Arafat. Mike accumulated 68 of his 77 runs in boundaries. Usman Minus (9) became another victim for Arafat just before Lunch.

Dunk 46*, and Roman Walker 7* took County into Lunch on 255/5 from 53 overs. In the third over after Lunch, Walker (19) was bowled by Arafat. In the next over Dunk went to a richly merited 56 off 96 balls, when he drove Arafat through mid-on for runs.

Arafat then picked up three wickets in quick succession, Nat Bowley (6), Matt Salisbury (0), and Pip Jackson (0). Leicestershire on 291/9 from 63.6 overs.

Enter Liam Tew who did a sterling job in a rewarding partnership with Dunk. Dunk was on 58 when Tew arrived at the crease, and much attritional batting by the pair was in evidence. Dunk taking most of the strike whilst Tew carefully protected his wicket. Dunk on several occasions hitting the ball into vacant areas but turning down runs to keep the strike.

Dunk and Tew had been together for five overs when Dunk went to his 100 by guiding seamer Sam Keeling-Wright behind cover point for a boundary. Dunk held his bat, arms, and helmet aloft to acknowledge the applause from his teammates on reaching his maiden century for the second X1.

Patience, aggression, and ‘nous’ aptly demonstrated by Dunk. Liam Tew’s contribution for staying with Dunk should not be underestimated. Additionally, wonderful team spirit was displayed when Tew punched the air several times, with a clenched right fist, as the ball crossed the boundary for Dunk’s 100.  Leicestershire on 336/9 from 69.3 overs.

Three overs later Dunk and Tew brought up their 50 partnership at exactly a run a ball. Dunk having contributed 42 runs to the partnership, Tew two runs, and six extras.

Leicestershire’s innings came to an end after 73.2 overs when Tew (2) was run out. Dunk finished on 108 from 152 balls. A fabulous knock from the 18-year-old. A certain centre-back at Brighton & Hove Albion will not now have exclusive and sole rights to the name Dunk in the sporting world! I suppose if you are into basketball, you would say it was a good slam by Dunk.

Leicestershire 343 all out from 73.2 overs, leading by 163 runs. Northants seamer Arafat returning career best SEC figures of 8/93 from 25 overs.

Northamptonshire commenced their second innings at 3.03pm with a minimum of 50 overs remaining in the day. Only 11 balls were possible before the players left the field because of rain. However, out of those 11 balls, three wickets were taken!

Matt Salisbury had Krish Patel (4) caught at the wicket by Swindells, from the final delivery of his first over. Aum Raykar, who top scored with 71 in Northants’ first innings, went first ball in the second over caught at the wicket by Swindells from the first ball of Roman Walker’s over.

Aadi Sharma (2) then was trapped lbw from Walker’s fifth delivery. Rain began to fall, and the Umpires took the players from the field at 3.14pm. Arush Buchake 0*. Northamptonshire 6/3 from 1.5 overs.

Tea was then taken and with no sign of the precipitation abating, play was called off for the day at 4.30pm. Northamptonshire require a further 157 runs to avoid an innings defeat.