Green Claims Third Five-Fer In Dramatic Final-Ball Tie With Derbyshire

By Jon Culley, ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay

Leicestershire Foxes and Derbyshire Falcons shared a dramatic tie after a see-saw battle at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Rishi Patel (94, 119b) and Lewis Hill (93, 95b) shared a 166-run second-wicket partnership as the Foxes posted 312 for five from their 50 overs, bolstered by valuable contributions from Peter Handscomb (35, 23b) and Ben Cox (35 not out, 22b) as the last 10 overs added 90 to their total.

Alex Green (five for 64), the Foxes’ 18-year-old fast bowling prospect, had another memorable day, taking his third five-wicket haul of the competition. Zak Chappell (49, 37b) almost took the Falcons to victory as Tom Scriven conceded 13 off the final over but was run out off the last ball.

Earlier Harry Came (67, 72b) and Caleb Jewell (39, 34b) had given the Falcons a flying start before Matt Montgomery (47, 55b) and Anuj Dal (45, 24b) kept them in contention.

Derbyshire soon removed Sol Budinger after opting to bowl on a damp, overcast morning, the left-hander caught at midwicket off Rory Haydon, the young Derbyshire fast bowler, who had dropped him off his own bowling the previous delivery. Haydon damaged his right hand attempting the catch and, though he completed the over, was off the field for the remainder of the innings.

For the next couple of hours, Patel and Hill dominated. Hill completed a brisk half-century in 52 balls, timing his shots beautifully in gathering seven boundaries. A dab to third man from Patel took their stand into three figures in 18 overs. Patel, left out of the last two matches, completed his fifty off 79.

Hill looked nailed on for his first List A century in four years when a lovely cut off Ben Aitchison took him into the 90s. Yet the next ball proved his undoing, pulled straight into the hands of Anuj Dal at midwicket.

Patel hit four sixes, all over the legside boundary, three of Martin Andersson. Like Hill, though, he lost his wicket with the hard work done, hitting in the air as Andersson pitched wide of off stump and finding the fielder at mid-off.

Shan Masood fell for 22 off 28 balls, but Handscomb and Cox ensured the Patel-Hill partnership was not wasted to set Derbyshire a challenging total.

Falcons openers Came and Caleb Jewell made it look somewhat less daunting. Where the home side had been 39 for one from 10, Derbyshire put on 81 at more than six an over before Leicestershire could make a breakthrough in the 13th. Left-arm spinner Liam Trevaskis ended the partnership by bowling the left-handed Jewell through the gate.

Ian Holland dealt the Falcons a setback when he had Came caught at mid-off but the Falcons were well placed at 148 for two from 25.

Montgomery top-edged to backward point off Mike and another budding partnership was stymied when Green had Andersson leg before, after which the youngster had Brooke Guest caught at third man before taking a third wicket in as many overs as Ross Whiteley nicked behind.

Dal, on his first outing of the season in this competition, had a life on 25 when Masood spilled an easy chance at mid-on off, going on to share a 64-run stand with Chappell that swung the balance back to the Falcons.

But then he was run out as the non-striker by some smart work by Holland before Green returned with a superb final over that cost just one run, having Aitchison and Jack Morley both caught at backward point, leaving Derbyshire needing 14 off the final over.

Chappell plundered 12 from the first three deliveries off Scriven, who then bowled a wide to leave the scores level. Two dots followed before Chappell tried to scramble a leg bye off the last delivery but did not make it.