Dunk Impresses But Derbyshire Close In On Victory

By Pete Johnson

Jamie Dunk made 88 to lead a Leicestershire fight back of sorts on the second day of the SEF against Derbyshire at Belper Meadows.

However, the hosts took stumps 39 without loss and will require just 59 more runs for victory when play resumes for day three on Wednesday.

It was yet another glorious sunny day when Derbyshire resumed from their overnight 186/7, leading by 100 runs. Ben Aitchison 21*, Jake Green 0*. Zak Kelly replaced Pat Brown for the home side.

It took County a further 8.5 overs to claim the final three Derbyshire wickets, Chris Wright taking all three, and returning figures for the innings of 4/50 from 16.5 overs. There were two wickets each for Roman Walker and Matt Salisbury, and a solitary victim for Liam Trevaskis. Derbyshire 216 all out, a lead of 130 runs.

In the 18 overs available before lunch, Derbyshire made inroads into the County batting line up, Leicestershire into Lunch on 63/3. Sheridon Gumbs (23), Jay Madan (6), and Harry Swindells (12) the men out. Liam Trevaskis 21* (30b) and Jamie Dunk 1* (6b).

Trevaskis, who had looked very comfortable before lunch, was dismissed from the very first ball after the restart, caught at second slip by Matt Wagstaff off the bowling of seamer Rory Hayden.

It sparked an excellent partnership between Dunk and George Maddy. The duo posted a 50 partnership (120b), when the score reached 113/4 from 38.1 overs. Concentration supreme by the two youngsters.

Dunk and Maddy had added 80 runs when Maddy (46) 105b was pinned lbw. Maddy being denied a very much deserved half-century. Wickets then fell at regular intervals, but Jamie ‘the wall’ Dunk stood firm.

Usman Minhas and Roman Walker were both dismissed without scoring, Walker from the last ball before tea, with Leicestershire on 149/7 from 52.5 overs. Dunk 38*.

In the 5th over after tea, Sam Wood (1) went to a superb caught and bowled by spinner Joe Hawkins. A couple of overs later, Dunk went to his 50 (4x4) 114b when he guided seamer Rory Hayden wide of cover for a single.

Dunk then began to take on the Derbyshire attack, despite losing Chris Wright (9) lbw to Hawkins. A last wicket stand of 43 between Dunk and Matt Salisbury followed, with Dunk playing a senior role in managing the strike.

Salisbury (12*) 19b played his part in the 10th wicket cameo, before Dunk 88 (152b) was finally dismissed caught at first slip by Ben Aitchison off the bowling of seamer Jake Green. Leicestershire 227 all out from 70.3 overs. A fine effort by Dunk who ‘slam dunked’ towards the end of his innings, being dismissed just 12 runs short of a richly deserved century. The 19-year-old top scoring in both innings for the Foxes.

There were a minimum of 12 overs remaining in the day, with Derbyshire needing 98 runs to win. Mitch Wagstaff 3* and Will Tarrant 33* progressed the score to 39/0 at the close, meaning a further 59 runs are required for victory.