Running Foxes fall to convincing defeat at Welbeck

RLC 4 | Leicestershire Foxes 144 v Notts Outlaws 145 for three “ Outlaws win by seven wickets

SCORECARD | Available from Cricinfo HERE

POINTS | Leicestershire Foxes 0, Notts Outlaws 2

REPORT | The news from the middle from a grey but dry Welbeck Colliery CC was that the hosts won the toss and inserted the Running Foxes to open the batting.

There was just one change to the XI with the injured Dieter Klein making way for the return of Ben Mike who missed out against Warwickshire two days before.

With the toss confirmed, the covers were not fully removed from the field of play, as grey clouds descended over the playing area with a full 100-overs already looking unlikely.

The home crowd were keen for a full days play, though, after seeing just 21 overs bowled against Somerset here on Friday, 30 July.

The hosts got off to a quick start with the ball, having claimed two Leicestershire wickets within the first five overs of the innings.

Fletcher was the man causing the Foxes problem, after seeing off Patel (6, 5b) in the first over after the batsman nicked one through to Montgomery, who took the catch at head height, at second slip.

The second wicket soon followed, as Fletcher seamed one back in to Swindells (4, 12b) to clatter the top of middle and off, and the Foxes were two wickets down for 10 runs inside the first five overs.

Two new batsmen, Marcus Harris and Lewis Hill were now in the middle and embarked upon a partnership looking to impose some stability upon the Leicestershire innings.

The partnership lasted eight overs before it came to an end, yielding 23 further runs, as Fletcher claimed a third thanks to Schadendorf catching the edge of Harris behind for 16, off 25 balls.

The incoming batsman, George Rhodes, lasted less than two overs as the first Notts bowling change yielded their fourth wicket, Dane Paterson the man claiming the scalp.

Montgomery was on hand again to claim his second catch of the innings, after getting down well to his right to take the nick off of Rhodes one-handed. Rhodes departed for 2 (8b) as Arron Lilley emerged from the marquee.

Lilley’s stint in the middle lasted less than that of Rhodes, despite ending the over with a four off Paterson, flicking the Notts seamer away down to fine leg.

Two deliveries later, and Lilley’s wicket was up after yet another nick off, off the bowling of Fletcher this time as Schadendorf claimed his second catch of the day following the faint edge. The Foxes man departed for a-run-a-ball four, with Louis Kimber the new man.

Kimber managed to bring up the Foxes’ fifty after driving Fletcher away down to long off, off his back foot for his first boundary of the day.

The 24-year-old only lasted one further delivery though before guiding Paterson straight to the hands of Hutton who took the comfortable catch. Kimber was dismissed for 7 off 13 as Ben Mike joined Lewis Hill in the middle.

Hill, who was looking more and more like the anchor of the innings was soon joining his team back in the marquee, after Paterson claimed the crucial wicket “ his third of the day.

Notts once again found the edge of the Foxes as Schadendorf took his third catch. Paterson’s delivery seamed away from Hill (25, 50b) and enticed the Foxes skipper into the edge which was caught behind.

Leicestershire were now seven down, for 68 runs as Rehan Ahmed joined Mike in the middle.

The duo came together in the 23rd over, and after time spent quelling the Notts onslaught, began offering resistance by way of scoring runs.

The 100-run mark was reached with Mike earning a single off Evison, following a no-ball from the Outlaws’ youngster.

The duo continued to steadily build their partnership, and soon brought up it’s fiftieth run after 78 deliveries and 49 minutes in the middle together.

Moments later and this became the record eighth wicket stand for Leicestershire against Notts in List A cricket, eclipsing the previous record of 53 set by Tom Wells and Callum Parkinson at Grace Road in 2018.

As we entered the final 10 overs of the innings, the stand had recorded 66 runs with Mike on 33no and Ahmed on 30no, adding some valuable, defiant runs to the County total.

The record-breaking partnership soon came to an end, as Hutton served one up to Mike which he looked to despatch over square leg. The shot was heading for a six, though, Slater making his way round reached it in enough time to take the catch at chest height and dismiss Mike for a useful 34 from 62 balls.

Leicestershire were 138 for eight in the 42nd over as Ed Barnes made his way to the middle to join Ahmed.

Barnes’ stint lasted four minutes before Trego pinned the Foxes man infront for 0 (1b).

Chris Wright joined Ahmed (34no, 68b) in the middle to form the final Leicestershire partnership with the Foxes on 140 for nine, with 7.4 overs remaining.

The final wicket for County fell within four minutes as Hutton found the edge of Wright (2, 4b) and Schadendorf caught behind for his fourth catch of the day.

Rehan Ahmed finished the man not out for County on 35 (69b) as Leicestershire set Notts a target of 145.

Chris Wright opened the bowling for the Running Foxes with a maiden, as Slater and Budinger opened the batting for the hosts.

Ed Barnes joined Wright from the other end and made an early breakthrough with his second over of the day.

Budinger (13, 12b) was the man to go after making a quick start, as Barnes found the edge of the batsman and Harry Swindells accepted the feather behind the stumps.

Outlaws’ captain, Trego, made his way to the middle with Notts on 14 for one.

The duo of Trego and Slater soon accelerated away with their powerplay coming to a close with them sitting on 62 for one, after an over of 14.

A colossal over for the hosts followed two overs later as two Trego sixes saw Outlaws record 22 from the 12th and really impose themselves on the innings.

The 13th over saw Rehan Ahmed come in for his first of the day, and strike with immediate effect.

The 16-year-old claimed the wicket of Trego as the batsman nicked one through to the gloves of Swindells for a 31-ball 39.

Outlaws were 95 for two after 12.4 overs Montgomery joined Slater (37no, 35b) in the middle.

Montgomery though, soon had a new partner in the middle after Ben Mike struck within his third over of the afternoon.

Slater (38, 38b) was the man to go as he nicked off this time and was caught behind by Swindells, who took his third catch of the day.

Outlaws were now 97 for three, as James joined Montgomery in the middle.

The young pairing carefully took their time to get in at the crease which soon came to a head as Montgomery recorded three consecutive fours from the 17th over to move the hosts on to 121 for three.

The victory was then confirmed for the hosts after James recorded his third four of the afternoon. The Running Foxes were defeated by seven wickets. 

FIGURES | Fletcher 10-2-30-4, Hutton 8.1-1-22-2, Paterson 8-1-25-3, Evison 7-1-27-0, Patterson-White 5-0-19-0, Trego 5-0-19-1

Wright 6-1-54-0, Barnes 4-0-19-1, Mike 6-1-43-1, Ahmed 4.2-0-26-1

FOXES | Patel, Rhodes, Harris, Hill (C), Lilley, Swindells (wk), Kimber, Mike, Ahmed, Barnes, Wright

OUTLAWS | Slater, Budinger, Trego (C), Montgomery, James, Evison, Patterson-White, Schadendorf (wk), Hutton, Fletcher, Paterson

IMAGES | Thanks to John Mallett of Outside Off for providing images throughout the game.