First-class Ali keeps Seconds on victory track
Wed 10 Jun 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire Second XI are in control at Worcestershire thanks to major contributions on the second day from Aadil Ali, Eben Kurtz and George Corbett, and an important post lunch interjection from Alex Wyatt, after Zak Chappell and James Sykes had pulled things around on the first day.
A cloudy sky, and a very unseasonable cool day for June, greeted the players as they entered the field of play on day two of this Championship encounter at Kidderminster.
Play got underway on time with Worcestershire resuming on their overnight score of 30-2, the not out batsmen being, George Rhodes 8*, and Joe Clarke 1*.Rhodes and Clarke progressed against the opening attack of Freckingham and Wyatt.
Skipper Tom Wells changed the bowling around after 12 overs of the morning session, introducing Liam Hurt and himself to the attack. Clarke brought up his 50 (9x4) from 67 balls taking the score to 101-2 after 28.2 overs.
Immediately afterwards Wells had an extremely confident lbw appeal turned down against Clarke when he was on 51. However, the introduction of left arm seamer Corbett at the Railway End swung the game dramatically into County’s favour.
In the second over of his spell, Corbett had Clarke (78) caught behind by Lewis Hill, putting Worcestershire on 136-3. In the next over Wells was finally successful with an lbw appeal trapping the dangerous Alexei Kervezee (1) in front.
In the next over Corbett, who was now steaming in from the Railway End had Rhodes (28) caught at first slip by Neil Pinner, leaving Worcestershire on 139-5.
Corbett, now in the fourth over of his spell was right on track, and sent Worcestershire off the rails when he pinned Shaaiq Choudhry (4) in front, Worcestershire having a bit of a train crash disintegrating to 147-6, giving County a platform for a healthy first innings lead.
Ross Whiteley and Alex Hepburn took Worcestershire into lunch on 159-6 from 45 overs, Corbett having impressive figures of 5-2-10-3. After lunch the wily Wells opened up with Wyatt and Chappell. In his third over after lunch Wyatt, operating from the Masonic Lodge End summoned up two wickets.
With the second ball of the over Whiteley (23) was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary by Hurt and with the fifth delivery, Hepburn (5) was caught behind by Hill. In the following over Chappell, rattling in from the Railway End, had Josh Tongue (1) expertly caught behind by Hill, diving to his right.
Worcestershire having been somewhat comfortable at 136-2, were now 180-9. Last man Wade had his stumps rearranged by the second ball he received from Chappell, but unfortunately it was a no-ball.
Wade then proceeded to play a number of ‘air shots’ going completely down the wrong line but somehow survived. It was left to Hurt to remove Darrel Williams (18) confidently pouched by Hill behind the wicket, thus becoming Hill’s fourth victim of the innings. Worcestershire all out for 203, 102 runs in arrears.
Ali and Kurtz opened the innings for County, and the two young prospects produced a partnership that blossomed, flowered, and harvested a glut of runs. Ali, who can force the pace readily when asked to do so, played a solid rock-like typical opener’s innings, whilst Kurtz showed an abundance of maturity and patience for a 19-year-old.
Opening bowler Tongue received a lashing when being deposited for boundaries by Ali, whilst in line with the ‘railway theme’, Kurtz was finding and minding the gaps. The pair took County safely into tea on 88-0, from 21 overs, Ali 36*, Kurtz 42*.
After tea Worcestershire skipper Choudhry kept rotating his bowlers but could not dislodge this durable duo. The 100 partnership came up from 139 balls. Kurtz was first to his 50 (7x4) from 70 balls with the score on 104-0 from 29.1 overs. Aadil Ali brought up his 50 (7x4) from 85 balls with the score on 117-0 from 33.3 overs.
The 150 partnership came up from 216 balls. Worcestershire finally broke the partnership after 42.5 overs when Kurtz (71) was lbw to the captain with the total on 163. A great effort from Kurtz to go with his 38 at the top of the order in the first innings.
Neil Pinner joined Ali and the pair kept the scoreboard ticking over at a healthy rate, Ali hitting a towering maximum off spinner Rhodes that tested the brickwork of the Masonic Lodge.
At the start of the final over of the day, Ali was on strike on 98 not out. He calmly sent the ball through wide long-on to the ropes bringing up a magnificent and thoroughly deserved century (12x4,1x6) from 170 balls after 52.1 overs.
Aadil has been involved with the Second XI for the past four years, having come through the Academy. This was his first century for the Second XI, and if ever a bloke was worthy of one for all the hard work, effort, and dedication he has put in it is him.
Let’s hope it is the first of many on his cricketing journey. Even the railway line was silent so that the applause of his colleagues could be heard. Pinner made 23 from 24 balls in an unbroken partnership of 51 for the 2nd wicket. County closed on 214-1 after 53 overs, a lead of 316.
After two days in the Kidderminster Scorebox , that backs up to a busy railway line, I can confirm that some 40 trains a day pass by during the day’s play. Compared to yesterday the 12.03 was four minutes late today, and the 17.57 was 90 seconds early passing by. Even the Umpires are signalling...
