SEC v Derbyshire CCC 2nd XI Day One Report
Tue 27 Apr 2021
Well it seems a very long time ago, September 2019 in fact, when I filed my last Match Report of a Leicestershire 2nd XI game. Apologies if it takes me a paragraph or two to get my eye in as we make our way into the 2021 season.
In these pandemic times, of which we are hopefully nearing the end, spectators are not allowed into First Class or Second X1 games, at present, as you are all well aware. I sincerely hope we are able to welcome our loyal and valued supporters back into cricket grounds in the very near future.
First up, I would like to offer personal belated congratulations to Dips Patel on being appointed Second XI Coach. It is much deserved as Dips offers sound leadership, guidance, and advice, as well as being Action Man personified in all the pre match warm ups, no to mention sightings of him doing a selection of his drills during the Lunch & Tea Intervals. All this in addition to the countless hours of Coaching expertise he contributes on non-matchdays. LCCC’s Mr Cricket. The original Mr Cricket, Michael Hussey, has got an heir apparent!
On a sunny, but chilly morning, I find myself dutifully ensconced in the ‘Kibworth Aery’ secreted away amidst the delightful surroundings of Kibworth Cricket Club as the Second XI begin their first home game of the season against Derbyshire Second XI. The 2s were in action last week over at Nottingham, and recorded a splendid victory, getting home by 71 runs.
A solid day’s play by Leicestershire saw them post a total of 369-6 from the days allotted 96 overs. George Rhodes (117) weighed in with a sparkling century, ably supported by Sam Bates (68) and Louis Kimber (67).
Rhodes skippered Leicestershire, won the toss, and elected to bat. Sam Evans opened the innings with Rhodes. Evans returned from a concussion injury picked up at The Oval in the recent First XI Championship game v Surrey.
Opener Evans (23, 22b) took seamer George Scrimshaw for four boundaries before being caught at first slip by Alex Hughes off the bowling of the tall seamer. County 41-1 (from 7.4). Bates joined Rhodes fresh from his fine innings of 90 in the 2s game at Nottingham last week.
Skipper Rhodes panned seamer Potts for consecutive boundaries in the 11th over before Rhodes and Bates posted a 50 partnership, from 53 balls, when Bates pulled paceman Ben Hutchinson to the ropes, just behind square. County on 93-1 (from 16.3).
Rhodes meanwhile was regularly taking boundaries off four of the seamers used by Derbyshire. Rhodes stands very upright at the crease, and would not look out of place in a line up of Grenadier Guardsmen if you put a bearskin on his head. Bates was also in boundary mode, and raced to his half century (12x4) from 53 balls, the Groby Gloveman taking the boundaries in the 19th over of the morning bowled by Hutchinson, the third of which brought up his 50.
The duo were notching up a plethora of boundaries, the ball as it sped to the boundary spending more time on the carpet than a Dyson vacuum cleaner. Rhodes soon afterwards also posted his 50 (73b, 11x4) when he effortlessly despatched Hutchinson through the covers for a boundary. County on 138-1 from 26.1. Rhodes and Bates reached their 100 partnership from 113 balls, 142-1 after 26.3 overs.
Leicestershire went into lunch on 149-1 from 28 overs, Rhodes 57* Bates 63*. Bates (68, 81b) was dismissed in the 6th over after Lunch when he clipped Alex Hughes to mid-wicket, and was caught by Aneesh Kapil. Nick Welch (0, 3b) unfortunately played one onto his stumps from Hughes, leaving County on 179-3 from 35.3 overs.
Kimber joined Rhodes on the back of a magnificent 178 in the first innings, as well as a half-century, in the second innings for the 2s last week over at Nottingham. Rhodes went to his 100 (163b, 22x4) when he drilled Scrimshaw square to the ropes. Rhodes (115*) and Kimber (41*) took County to tea on 257-3 from 64 overs.
Rhodes (117) was dismissed from the 4th ball after Tea when he was caught at mid-wicket by Hutchinson off seamer Kapil, Leicestershire 260-4 from 64.4 overs. Scott Steel joined Kimber, who went to his 50 (89b, 6x4, 1x6) when he deposited Kapil for a maximum.
No.5 Kimber had played some delightful wristy shots through the mid-wicket area in compiling his half century. Kimber (67, 111b) went caught at slip by Hughes off the bowling of leg-spinner Matthew McKiernan, County 279-5 from 71.4.
Steel was joined by Will Davis, who was returning to the fold after picking up an injury a few weeks ago. Steel (30) played a resolute innings before being trapped in front by Scrimshaw soon after the new ball had been taken, 321-6 from 82.2 overs.
Academy prospect Dylan Church joined Davis, and the pair dug in against the new ball. Church playing solidly and stoically whilst Davis was also facing the pace barrage adroitly. The Derbyshire attack could not part the pair, being unable to snooker Davis, whilst Church was singing off the right hymn sheet!
Davis and Church admirably saw out some 14 overs of the new ball before stumps, and ensured that they built on the strong foundations laid to the innings. Leicestershire closing on 369-6 from the regulation 96 overs, Davis 24* (69b), Church 25* (41b).
As a footnote, at present in line with ECB instructions, Scorers are not allowed to travel to away games, the home County providing both Scorers. As a consequence home scorers are doing both First XI and Second XI games.
Today is the 13th day this season, and 4 out of the last 5 days, that I have been in a socially distanced space with one Paul J Rogers for some 7 hours each day. I am sure if such a challenging feat of endurance was introduced as a Bushtucker Trial on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here contestants may find such a period of time in the company of Le Prodge a bridge too far. I must have a word with those Ant & Dec chappies, and ask them to consider including a similar incarceration initiative in the next series.
Scorecard is available HERE.
By Pete Johnson
