Minhas Stars As Under-18s Ramp Up T20 Preparations
Mon 12 May 2025
Leicestershire Under-18s ramped up their preparations for the start of the County T20 Cup with a quartet of warm-up matches against Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire last weekend.
Jigar Naik’s young Foxes won one and lost one against each opponent, with Usman Minhas and Sahil Sheth impressing across the two days.
The Foxes ended with a 47-run win over Warwickshire at Moseley CC on Monday, led by Minhas’ unbeaten 78 from just 53 balls. The opener was the backbone of a strong batting display, hitting 11 boundaries en route “ including whacking Joe Walley over the mid-wicket ropes twice in four balls - as Leicestershire reached 180 from their 20 overs.
The 18-year-old continued to affect the game from the field, as his direct hit from mid off ran out Rory Grant (14), before Keshav Sthanakiya pinned Isaac Maddy - son of former Leicestershire and Warwickshire all-rounder Darren “ in front for a duck two deliveries later.
Leicestershire’s spinners maintained the squeeze, with Sheth and Ali Farooq also picking up wickets, as the Foxes ran out comfortable winners by 47 runs.
It avenged a 15-run defeat earlier in the day. Chasing 160, 16-year-old opener Suhail Noori hit a quickfire 32 (19b) before the middle-order came unstuck to home spinner Eddie Miller. Josh Fitzpatrick (23*, 17b) and Sheth (18*, 12b) led a late burst but the hosts held on.
It was a similar story on Sunday, with Leicestershire winning the second game of the day by six wickets having been edged out in the opener. Spin twins Sheth (4-0-18-3) and Farooq (4-1-12-3) turning a tight match into the Foxes’ favour after instigating a Nottinghamshire collapse.
The hosts were well perched on 62 for two after home skipper Byron Hatton-Lowe hit Sheth for a straight six at the beginning of the eighth. But Sheth, an off-spinner previously of Surrey, had the last laugh, getting Hatton-Lowe (19) stumped by Jimmy Fry without further score three balls later.
The 17-year-old struck twice in his next over, as opener Aditya Badge (30) fell in identical fashion, before Jacob Hughes (0) was bowled looking to sweep two balls after.
Three wickets for Farooq, including a wicket maiden, intensified a Notts capitulation from 61 for two to 95 for nine, as the hosts limped to 113 after 20 overs. Noori (19, 9b) was quick out of the traps, before Will Macdonald’s 42 not out (33b) steered the side home by six wickets after 13.1 overs.
The win followed a tantalising defeat off the penultimate ball in the first game of the day. Opener Ronak Rajashekar registered 85 from 62 balls to help Leicestershire to 153 for seven, before a brutal 65 not out off 34 balls from Hatton-Lowe won the contest for Notts.
That was despite another impressive display from Sheth, who spun four for 14 from his allocation. The right-arm offie bowled Aditya Badge (19) and Hughes (0), before getting Saad Ali (8) and Toby Lambert (3) caught at long on and long off respectively.
Leicestershire U18s return to action when they kick off the County T20 Cup against Derbyshire on 27 May.
