Foxes Seven Wickets Away From Victory After Dismissing Notts For 97

By Pete Johnson

Leicestershire very much maintain the upper hand in the SEC clash at Kibworth, dismissing Nottinghamshire for 97 in their first innings. Asked to follow on, Nottinghamshire were 203-3 at stumps, still requiring a further 207 runs to avoid an innings defeat. Will Davis, Matt Salisbury, Roman Walker, and Sam Wood all contributing to a fine display by the County pace attack.

Yet another chilly unseasonable morning for early July greeted us when we arrived at Kibworth CC for day two between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Freddie McCann (4* overnight) was joined by Sam King, a wicket having fallen from the final delivery on day one. Nottinghamshire continuing from their overnight 7-4. In the first over of the morning the Foxes got a wicket when McCann (6) 10b was bowled by Matt Salisbury. Left-handed Savin Perera joined King.

Perara (9) 21b went caught a first slip by Roman Walker off the bowling of Matt Salisbury eight overs later, Nottinghamshire looking down the barrel on 29-6 from 15.6 overs. In the next over, King (15) 34b shouldered arms to a delivery from Will Davis that rattled into his stumps. Not the first time that a bloke named Davis has completely snookered somebody! Nottinghamshire 37-7 from 16.6 overs.

Fateh Singh, and Dan Blatherwick then posted Nottinghamshire highest partnership of the innings, 24 runs. It came to an end when Singh (18) 22b was bowled by a ball of fuller length from Sam Wood.  Nottinghamshire 61-8 from 23.4 overs.

Farhan Ahmed (0) 3b was bowled by Walker. A last wicket partnership of 23 was then posted by Blatherwick and Bailey Wightman. Nottinghamshire’s innings came to an end when Blatherwick (32) 45b was caught down the leg side by keeper Harry Swindells off the bowling of Walker. Nottinghamshire 97 all out from 31 overs at 12.42pm. Wightman (9*) 14b.

All four Foxes bowlers used picking up wickets. Davis 10-4-14-4, Salisbury 9-1-26-3, Walker 6-1-28-2, Wood 6-2-26-1. An excellent display. Nottinghamshire trailing by 410 runs, and were asked to follow on.

There was time for two overs before lunch, Nottinghamshire 5/0. Ben Martindale 5*, Tom Loten 0*. County struck in the second over after lunch when Martindale (5) 11b was caught by Louis Kimber at second slip off the bowling of Salisbury.

Dane Schadendorf (1) 8b followed soon afterwards, bowled by Davis. Nottinghamshire 14-2 off 4.6 overs. McCann joined Loten. Loten and McCann had added 36 runs when McCann (26) 38b was caught behind by Swindells off Walker. Nottinghamshire 50-3 from 18.5 overs.

It proved to be the last success of the day for County. Sim King joined Loten at 2.54pm, and the pair saw Nottinghamshire through to the end of the day’s play. Loten and King posted a 50 partnership from 91b when the score reached 100-3 from 33.6 overs.

Sam Evans was rotating his bowlers in an effort to get a breakthrough, but Loten and King stood firm. At 6.04pm, with six overs remaining in the day, bad light brought a premature end to proceedings. Nottinghamshire closing on 203-3 from 64 overs. Loten (86*) 196b, King (75*) 134b. Nottinghamshire requiring a further 207 runs to avoid an innings defeat, with seven wickets in hand.

A full scorecard can be viewed HERE.