Jones & Parkinson share seven wickets

Leicestershire CCC put 90 more overs under their belt as a three-day intra-squad match got underway at the Fischer County Ground today.

The play was split, with the team batting first allocated 60 overs and a final session of 30 overs. Ned Eckersley and Tom Wells led the sides like in last Thursday’s 50-over intra-squad contest.

Team Wells won the toss and elected to bat but Richard Jones was in inspired form in the opening session to give his side the edge.

The seamer steamed in during two spells, opening at the Pavilion End before switching to the Bennett End as the session developed.

Jones removed the top three in returning figures of 3-7 from seven overs in the morning session, including five maidens.

Paul Horton (7) was caught behind by Harry Swindells before opening partner Lewis Hill (2) edged to Angus Robson while Aadil Ali fought hard in registering 22 runs before Harry Dearden snapped up a smart chance at third slip.

Captain Tom Wells (0) was bowled by one that drifted back in nicely from Callum Parkinson before Mark Pettini and Rob Sayer regrouped to take the score to 83-4 at lunch.

The duo continued their good form after the break in extending the alliance to 59 before Pettini (45 from 100b) became a fourth victim of Jones, Swindells completing the dismissal with the gloves.

Another useful alliance developed between Sayer, who recorded a fine half-century, and Burke, who struck nine boundaries in a lively 55-ball knock that yielded 43.

Zak Chappell bowled Sayer (65 from 90b, 6x4, 4x6) before Parkinson picked up two more wickets, having Burke caught at the wicket by Swindells and James Sykes (0) held by skipper Ned Eckersley.

The slow left armer finished with excellent figures of 3-31 from 15 overs while Jones ended with an outstanding analysis of 4-12 from 10 overs, seven of which did not yield a run off the bat.

Openers Angus Robson (46) and Harry Dearden (17 not out) battled hard in a final session where conditions quickly became gloomy.

They were well tested by a four-pronged pace attack of Gavin Griffiths, Burke, Charlie Shreck and Wells, and off-spinner Sayer, who was again accurate and asked questions.

One wicket was claimed before stumps as Robson drove Wells to Pettini at backward point. Ben Raine ended on 8 not out and Dearden also held firm having soaked up 78 deliveries in a watchful stay.

Team Eckersley (10 named): Robson, Dearden, Raine, Eckersley (capt), Chappell, Parkinson, Jones, Swindells (w/k), Fazakerley, Lamontague.

Team Wells: Horton, Hill (w/k), Ali, Pettini, Wells (capt), Sayer, Burke, Griffiths, Sykes, Shreck, Wareing.

Bowling figures (Team Eckersley): Jones 10-7-12-4, Chappell 13-4-45-1, Raine 12-3-31-0, Parkinson 15-5-31-3, Fazakerley 7-0-62-0, Lamontague 3-0-14-0.

Bowling figures (Team Wells): Griffiths 6-0-27-0, Burke 6-2-14-0, Shreck 6-0-16-0, Wells 6-2-11-1, Sayer 6-3-4-0.