Madan Continues Stunning Form As U18s Earn Derbyshire Win

Jay Madan’s unbeaten century helped Leicestershire Under 18s overturn a 90-run deficit to seal a battling six-wicket win against Derbyshire on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old hit his second hundred of the campaign to take his average to a whopping 120 and keep the Foxes unbeaten in their ECB County Championship group.

Jake Green’s lethal display with the ball, taking 7/35 combined with some excellent middle to lower order batting, put Derbyshire in a commanding position on the morning of day two.

But a fantastic fightback from the Foxes, started by an Ali Farooq five-for and finished by a brilliant ton from Madan, helped Jigar Naik’s side overturn the deficit to complete a comfortable victory.

Derbyshire elected to put themselves into bat and initially struggled to find success in the opening session thanks to some excellent bowling from both Liam Tew, who took three wickets.

Ali Farooq had Derbyshire in trouble on 93/6 with batters struggling to find any sort of long-term stay at the crease, but a 93-run partnership between Zak Kelly and Harrison Parker guided the Falcons back on track.

Parker spearheaded some lower order firepower as Derbyshire recovered to post 244 in their first innings. Left-arm spinner Farooq ending with 4/58.

Leicestershire’s reply started in a fashion that looked as though it would at least get them to parity, but Green’s 7-fer inspired the hosts to bowl the Foxes out for 154 having been 114/3. Jacob Townsend top scoring with 44.

Derbyshire put on 34 for the first wicket but a tight spell from the Foxes attack led to three quick wickets; Liam Tew, Joshua Fitzpatrick and Darius Fanibanda all claiming one each.

Farooq then sparked another middle to lower order collapse, as Derbyshire lost their last seven wickets for just 28 runs. The 17-year-old turning the tide with a stunning spell (5/36) as he cleaned up the tail to claim his five-fer.

Requiring 223 to win, in-form Jay Madan played with real fluency, reaching his 50 off just 57 balls with a sweet on-drive for four.

The opener didn’t look like slowing down but needed someone to stick with him; Fitzpatrick, Jamie Dunk and Ronak Rajashekar all out for single figure scores.

Townsend then departed for 15 leaving the Foxes on 118/4, bringing Usman Minhas to the middle. The pair made 105 together, during which Madan pulled a four through mid-wicket to make a sensational hundred.

Minhas notched an excellent 70 of his own, which included 10 fours and a six, cheekily reverse scooping for four to guide Leicestershire over the line, winning by six wickets. The side are one point off the summit of Group One after four matches.