Eckersley guides Seconds to win
Wed 8 Jun 2016
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Another hot summer’s day was in evidence at Hinckley Town/CCA as we arrived for the final day of the Second XI Championship encounter between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, which was to be a cracking three sessions of entertainment. Certainly ‘cracking the flags’ weather.
It has been announced that Jamie Vardy will now make his ‘Remain’ or ‘Leave’ decision after the upcoming Euros, we now therefore have Lexit to contend with as well as Brexit. Don’t think I can stand much more of either!
As has become the norm for this match, it was standing room only in the scorebox some 15 minutes before the start of play. The faithful hound was feverishly slurping water from his most generous sized bowl as he awaited the start of play. As an added bonus, the occupants of the scorebox were treated to a simultaneous foot spa.
An absorbing day’s cricket developed for the loyal band of spectators present, with County achieving a thrilling victory from the first ball of the last over of the day’s play. Dominic Brown joined the Nottinghamshire team for day 3, as Matt Carter had been called up to the First XI squad. Will Root was absent due to an injury picked up on day two.
Nottinghamshire resumed on 35-0, a lead of 92 with Libby 18* and Barrett 13*. County had an early breakthrough in the third over of the day when Rob Sayer leapt to his left to take a superb one-handed catch at a wide gully position to dismiss Nottinghamshire skipper Jake Libby(19) off the bowling of Matt Wareing - the catch being straight out of Joe Hart’s locker.
Barrett and Hodgson then pushed the score along quickly hoping to set up a declaration to give Nottinghamshire time to bowl County out. Barrett went to his half-century (5x4/118 balls) with the score on 123-1 from 35.6 overs. Hodgson soon followed with his second 50 of the match (4x4/55 balls) with the score on 135-1 from 37.5 overs.
Nottinghamshire went into Lunch on 186-1 from 47 overs, Barrett 82* (155 balls) and Hodgson 73* (81 balls). Nottinghamshire batted for a further 8 overs after lunch. They lost the wickets of Hodgson (79) very well caught by Chad Barrett, running round from deepish mid -on, off the bowling of Sayer. Then Anuj Dal (0) went first ball lbw to Wareing.
Barrett and Moores added a further 38 runs. In their partnership, Barrett went to his century (10x4/178 balls). Nottinghamshire declared on 237-3 from 55 over’s. Barrett 101*, Moores 17*. Sayer and Wareing catching the eye with the ball. A sporting declaration from the Robin Hood County, who were about to have their pockets picked by Leicestershire.
County were set 295 to win from a minimum of 53 overs at a rate of 5.56 per over. Harry Dearden and Will Wright opened the innings. A bit of a ‘Princely’ opening pair here developing with Harry and Will, but we won’t mention that.
The score had reached 25 from 6.2 overs when Wright (13) was caught at second slip by Hodgson off Kitt. Ned Eckersley joined Dearden, and the pair safely took County into Tea on 99-1 from 17 overs. Dearden 37* (54 balls), Eckersley 41* (34 balls). 196 for victory being now required from a minimum of 36 overs, an asking rate of 5.44 per over.
Dearden and Eckersley enjoyed a partnership of 119. Dearden went to his 50, his second of the match (7x4/73 balls) with the score on 124-1 from 21.1 overs. Soon followed by Eckersley’s half-century (7x4/44 balls), with the score on 127-1 from 22 overs. The pair’s 100 partnership came up from 93 balls.
Opener Dearden (58) was finally dismissed when he was lbw to Jake Libby. These three days have been a good gig(g) for this son of Bury, who took the opportunity to shake up the Nottinghamshire attack.
Skipper Eckersley meanwhile let himself off the lead and was building an innings of pedigree. Aadil Ali (7) went caught by keeper Moores again off Libby. Leicestershire entered the last hour, whereby a minimum of 16 overs must be bowled, on 200-3, requiring 95 runs to win.
Irfan Karim joined Eckersley, and the pair began the charge putting on 61 runs before Karim (32 from 39 balls), went caught half-way back by Blatherwick running round from mid-on off spinner Patterson-White.
Zak Chappell (3) sacrificed himself in the chase, caught at long-on again by the Blatherwick/Patterson-White combination. Rob Sayer (13 from 14 balls), went caught behind by Moores off Paterson-White. Just afterwards, Matt Stokes (6) was bowled by Patterson-White, Leicestershire now needing 41 runs from 5.3 overs.
Enter Chad Anthony Barrett, who exuded confidence when he arrived at the crease. He proceeded to unleash more reverse sweeps than Harry Corbett has seen when putting that infamous glove puppet on inside out (if you cannot remember Sooty and Sweep you are not old enough to be reading this).
Eckersley went to a magnificent century (9x4/110 balls) with 26 needed for victory from 3.4 overs. A superb ton from Eckersley who hounded down the bowling, and scampered between the wickets in terrier-like fashion. He very much had the Nottinghamshire attack barking up the wrong tree in trying to dismiss him. The name Ned may affectionately refer to a horse, but every dog has his day.
When the last over of the game arrived, and with large black clouds gathering nearby, Barrett with the minimum of fuss smacked the first ball of the over, delivered by medium pacer Dominic Brown for 4 straight down the ground. County 296-7, winning by 3 wickets with 5 balls remaining. Eckersley 113*(120 balls) and Barrett 23* (13 balls). Leicestershire 24 points, Nottinghamshire 6 points.
Sincere thanks to all at Hinckley Town/CCA for accommodating us over the past three days. Special mention to Barry for his work on the ground, and his merry band of helpers. Also Callum a member of the groundstaff at the FCG, who has travelled over to assist and offer his expertise every day. Arriving early in the morning, and leaving long after we have all gone.
Thanks to Lorraine for her work in the kitchen, and to Graham for operating the Scoreboard. How could we leave Hinckley without reference to the ‘magical mutt’. Upon his departure from the scorebox he informed me, in a rather gruff voice that he was sorry to learn of the demise of the Hound Road Stand at Trent Bridge. I replied that I had not seen Nottinghamshire winalot in this game!
