Freckingham takes three for Seconds

Scorecard

A lovely summer’s day at Desborough Town CC greeted us as we arrived for the Second XI Championship match between MCC Universities and Leicestershire, this fixture being a home game for the students.

The match marked a Second XI debut for Leicestershire Academy prospect Sam Evans. Rosemary and Chris, plus a plethora of parents were in place, with time to spare, adjacent to the sightscreen at the ‘Field End’ of this ‘Rural Eldorado’ to cast their watchful eyes over the day’s proceedings.

Steve Bullen won the toss for MCC Universities and unsurprisingly chose to bat. Bullen and Henry Thompson opened up for MCCU, being examined by Freckingham and Wyatt, who opened the bowling for County.

Wyatt had a very confident caught behind against Thompson turned down with his first ball, and soon afterwards survived a confident shout for a caught behind off Freckingham.

Thompson (1), however, went quickly afterwards caught low down by Neil Pinner at first slip off Freckingham. A rather lengthy free period beckoned for the undergraduate.

Keeper Cullen joined Bullen, for what had the ingredients for a tongue twisting partnership. The pair added 70 for the second wicket, Bullen (35) then departing caught behind by Mike Burgess off Tom Wells.

 Rob Sayer was introduced at the ‘Car Park End’, and with the first ball of his second over trapped Cullen (42) in front. This brought Azad to the wicket, and he was rather fortunate to escape a run out before he had scored, Sayer hitting the stumps with a direct hit, square on to the wicket.

Azad (11*) and Ellison (27*) took MCCU into lunch on 126-3 from 34 overs. At 2.22pm there was a ‘fly past’ by a Vulcan Bomber, with two small planes flying adjacent to each wing, and a fifth plane bringing up the rear.

My initial reaction was that Dan Nice must have bought a round of drinks back in Leicester. I later found out that the Vulcan was on a farewell tour of the UK before being mothballed. 

Skipper Wells had done his homework during the lunch interval as soon afterwards Ellison (45) was expertly caught behind by Burgess, diving to his right.

Azad had not learnt his lesson when narrowly escaping a run out by Sayer earlier, as when he was on 43, Evans produced a direct hit, again from square of the wicket. The Umpire monitored the situation as not out.

Azad went to his 50 (8x4) from 117 balls, but still had some extra curriculum in his locker. Liam Hurt produced a rapid spell during the afternoon for few runs. MCCU went into Tea on 241-4, Azad (80*) and Alex Martin (24*).

Andrea Agathangelou had a spell from the ‘Car Park End’ and produced a delivery that was all Greek to Martin (26), trapping him lbw.

Azad (88) then departed, the studious student produced a schoolboy error, when having caned, and swotted, the majority of the bowling, he hit a full toss from Avish Patel straight to Dan Redfern at mid-wicket, his playtime now over. The MCCU Coach no doubt giving him a good talking to, behind the bike sheds.

Then followed what can only be described as the Agathangelou show, following the taking of the new ball after 80 overs. This slip catching colossus (although his first catch was in the gully, it rolls off the tongue better!) pulled off three superb catches.

First he snaffled Broughton (20) in the gully off Freckingham, the ball going like a tracer bullet. Next up he held a one-handed catch at second slip to dismiss McIver (25) off Freckingham, who finished with 3-49.

Then came an absolute ‘Worldie’. Again at second slip, he caught one millimetres above the ground diving to his right to remove Lilley(9) off the bowling of Wyatt. Schmeichel ‘esque’ doesn’t do his third catch justice. I have seen some slip catches in my time, and this one is up there with the best of them. Textbook stuff from Aggers.

MCCU lost their final wicket when Grundy (6) went caught behind by Burgess off Wyatt. Milnes was undefeated on 14, MCCU all out for 327 after 89.1 overs.

County had 12 overs to bat before the close and Eben Kurtz and Rob Sayer opened the innings. Kurtz (2), who has been an ideal student of form of late, was adjudged caught in the gully. However, being out cheaply is a somewhat rare occurrence for Kurtz and his midterm report is very promising. Sayer (16*) and Agathangelou (15*) took County into stumps on 39-1.