Nightingale Flourishes In Second XI Opener
Tue 12 Apr 2022
By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire Second XI commenced their 2022 campaign with a 4-Day SEC game against Lancashire at the home of Kibworth CC.
Yours truly back in the saddle again, duly ensconced within the somewhat snug Kibworth CC ‘scoring suite’, paying dutiful attention, and stringently recording the intricacies of the proceedings on view. My Lancashire colleague for the next four days being the human statistical encyclopedia that is Gary Morgan!
A cold spring morning greeted the players when they took to the field. It was good to see spectators in attendance again at a 2nd XI fixture following the easing of Covid restrictions that have been evident over the past two seasons.
A number of very familiar faces graced the boundary edge with their presence, two of whom were, of course, adjacent to one of the sightscreens. Also, a certain well know gentleman, whose name is synonymous with a mint-based item of confectionary, was seen perambulating the boundary edge complete with trademark flat cap, but with a rolled umbrella clasped firmly in his hand. Carole Kirkwood and Thomas Schafenacker are not the only ones who know when rain is on the way! Pretty impressed with my spelling there too, if I may humbly add.
It was a day severely disrupted by the weather. Play was 45 minutes late starting due to a wet outfield, while interruptions for bad light immediately after lunch and either side of tea drastically curtailed play. Only 36 overs were possible during the day. Leicestershire closed on 89-6, with Jack Nightingale posting an unbeaten 46.
Tom Scriven, skippered Leicestershire, his opposite number George Lavelle won the toss, and chose to field. Kieran Pell, Freddie Fallows, both of LCCC Academy, and Myne Rana of LYC Under 18’s, making their debut for Leicestershire 2nd XI.
Sam Bates and Vikai Kelley opened the innings, but County soon found themselves in the precarious position of 43-4. Bates (8), Scriven (0), Kelley (13), and Pell (3), the former caught behind, and the other three all lbw victims. Jack Nightingale offered stout resistance, and found an ally in Nat Bowley. Leicestershire went into lunch on 48-4 from 22 overs, Nightingale 23*, Bowley 0*.
There was a delay of 26 minutes immediately after lunch as a result of bad light. In the 4th over after the restart Nightingale took three boundaries in an over from ex Fox, Liam Hurt. Nightingale was moving sweetly through the gears, the Big Fella was very much on song and did not look like being removed from his perch. Bowley meanwhile was defending solidly, getting off the mark from the 22nd delivery he received.
Nightingale and Bowley had added 39 for the 5th wicket, when Bowley (10) 39b was caught behind by Lavelle off Hurt. Roman Walker joined Nightingale, took a single from the first ball he received, after which the umpires took the players from the field as a result of bad light at 3.39pm.
An early tea was taken with Leicestershire 89-6, Nightingale (46*) 81b, Walker (1*) 1b. After the tea interval the umpires made many forays to the middle to check the light, but any further play was not possible. At 5.14pm play was abandoned for the day. Hurt was the leading Lancashire wicket taker on the day with 3-33 from 14 overs.
The match scorecard can be found HERE.
