Kimber Blitzes Second Highest Ever SET20 Score

By Pete Johnson

Louis Kimber wrote his name into the history books on Thursday afternoon, as the Foxes’ new T20 skipper smashed 153 from just 75 balls, the highest individual score by a Leicestershire player, and the 2nd highest individual total registered since the SET20 began in 2011.

It helped Leicestershire to a 71-run triumph in the first of two games in the day against Lancashire in Blackpool, with the hosts winning the second match by eight wickets.

Game One:

Following their SET20 victory over Yorkshire on Tuesday, Leicestershire travelled onward to Blackpool for a SET20 double-header against Lancashire at Blackpool CC.

The SET20 record books were re-written as skipper Kimber made a dazzling 153 runs, propelling Dips Patel’s side to their highest ever total in the competition, 221 runs.

Lancashire skipper Tom Aspinwall won the toss, and invited Leicestershire to bat. After losing a wicket to the second ball of the innings, with Harry Swindells out for nought, (0), Louis Kimber displayed a catalogue of carnage.

After facing just 26 deliveries, Kimber went to his 50 (4x4/4x6), the total on 67-2 after 6.5 overs, Sheridon Gumbs (3) being the other wicket to fall. Kimber and Amrit Basra racked up a 50 partnership (27b) when the total reached 97-2 after 8.4 overs.

County then lost three wickets in the next 13 deliveries, Basra (30), Sam Wood (3), and Usman Minhas (1), during which time absolute ‘fireworks’ from the other end had seen Kimber progress to a 100 (6x4/9x6) from only 45 balls! A strike rate of 222.2, Leicestershire on 145-5 after 12.4 overs.

Kimber then, somewhat sedately by his standards went to his 150 (12x4/11x6) 73b. Kimber, 153 (12x4/11x6) 75b was dismissed from the third ball of the last over, as the Foxes closed on 221-9. A truly magnificent innings by Kimber, with the ball travelling through the stratosphere to all immediate areas of the Fylde Coast. His knock incurring four lost balls.

It was always going to be somewhat of an uphill struggle for Lancashire to overhaul County’s total. Lancashire closed on 150-8 from their 20 overs. Leicestershire winning by 71 runs. There were two wickets each for Sam Wood, Matt Salisbury and Julius Sumerauer for Leicestershire, a solitary wicket for Amrit Basra, and also a run out engineered by George Maddy and Harry Swindells.

Game Two:

Kimber won the toss and chose to bat. Jamie Dunk and Colby Dyer came into the Leicestershire XI replacing Matt Salisbury and Sam Wood. Lancashire replaced Gennaro Reddy and Mitchell Stanley with Hassan Mughal and Michael Jones.

Leicestershire, in contrast to Game 1, were dismissed for 141 from 18.4 overs. Harry Swindells’ 40 (29b) being the top score. The Academy graduate racked up a partnership of 61 with Kimber for the third wicket, their 50 alliance coming up from 25 deliveries.

Just three other Leicestershire batters getting into double figures, Kimber (26) 9b, Gumbs (27) 23b, and Sumerauer (12*) 10b. Lancashire took 17.5 overs to reach their target, closing on 147-2. Jack Lees (60) 40b being top scorer for the Red Rose County. Julius Sumerauer and Amrit Basra picking up a wicket each.

Leicestershire have two victories and a defeat from their opening three SET20 matches, currently occupying top spot in the Northern Group Table. The Foxes are back in action on Tuesday, taking on Derbyshire Falcons at Kibworth Cricket Club.