SEC v Derbyshire CCC 2nd XI Day Two Report

We arrived at Kibworth CC for day 2 of the SEC match between Leicestershire and Derbyshire, and were greeted by a very cold late April morning. Two sweaters were the order of the day for the majority of players. One of the Umpires wore a pair of gloves, and three layers was regulation clothing for the day for those of us on more sedentary duties.

In what turned out to be a truncated day’s play, Leicestershire took their overnight score of 369-6 onto 454 all out. Derbyshire on 199-2 when bad light stopped play for the day at 5.24pm. Young seamer Uday Modhwadia picked up both wickets with a commendable bowling performance.

Will Davis (24*, 69b) and Dylan Church (25*, 41b) resumed their partnership against an opening pace attack of Derbyshire skipper Ben Hutchinson and Nick Potts. Davis and Church brought up their 50 partnership (91b) when Church drove Potts to the boundary in the second over of the morning.

Davis soon followed this up by executing a textbook cover drive to the ropes off Potts. Davis, on cue, and taking a liking to Potts, but that’s enough about snooker. I understand that Davis only just missed out on a Blue at Oxford, but unfortunately went in off the cushion!

He brought up 50 (99b, 6x4) with another exquisite cover drive, this time off Hutchinson, Leicestershire now having progressed to 414-6 from 106.4 overs. The 100 alliance (139b) between Davis and Church followed a couple of overs later, when Church took a single off Hutchinson.

A further two overs had elapsed when Church (45, 90b) was caught at second slip by Matthew McKiernan off the bowling of Aussie seamer Bailey Wightman. The congregation on the Pavilion balcony giving Church a warm reception as he made his way up the steps. Another fine sermon delivered by Church at the crease. Leicestershire 427-7 from 110.6 overs.

Ed Barnes joined Davis, but Barnes (5) 7b was soon caught behind by keeper Will Smale off the bowling of medium pacer Alex Hughes.. Triallist Joe Parry joined Davis. In the next over Davis’ fine innings came to an end when he was pinned in front by Wightman. Davis 68 (128b).

Abidine Sakande, another Triallist, joined Parry, they had added a further 8 runs when Parry (4) 18b was trapped in front by leg spinner McKiernan. Sakande 4* (20b). Leicestershire all out for 454 from 121.2 overs, picking up maximum batting points (5). Leicestershire’s innings closing at 12.46pm.

Derbyshire had one over to face before Lunch, delivered by right arm seamer Sakande which Harry Came and Sam Perry negotiated safely. Immediately after Lunch Sakande and Barnes bowled in tandem, working up a good pace, but not making a breakthrough.

Modhwadia replaced Barnes at the Field End, and picked up two wickets in his first three overs. Modhwadia bowled a snorter which Perry (20, 38b) shouldered arms to, but the ball did a bit and clipped the top of off stump. Derbyshire 38-1 from 11.4.

Alex Hughes (1, 10b) soon followed when Modhwadia had him caught at second slip by Louis Kimber. Derbyshire 44-2 from 13.6 overs. Unfortunately that was as good as it got for Leicestershire as Came and Anuj Dal stayed together for the remainder of the day.

The pair posted a 50 partnership from 73 balls. Came went to his 50 (83b, 5x4) with the score on 122-2 from 29.3 overs. Came and Dal brought up their 100 partnership from 139 balls, from the penultimate ball before tea when the score reached 145-2.

Skipper George Rhodes used eight bowlers in trying to capture wicket, but to no avail. After tea, Dal went to his 50 (94b, 9x4) with the score on 172-2 from 41.6 overs. The pair brought up their 150 partnership from 215 balls, the score on 195-2 from 48.2 overs.

Just before the pair reached their 150 milestone, the Umpires had called for a light meter, and studiously perused the readings of the aforementioned for a couple of minutes. Dal drove Modhwadia straight down the ground to the boundary, straight after which the Umpires took the players off for bad light at 5.24pm, and abandoned play for the day.

Derbyshire closed on 199-2 from 48.4 overs. Came 82* (136b) and Dal 65* (118b). Modhwadia the pick of the County bowlers with figures of 13.4-4-37-2. Leicestershire 5 points, Derbyshire 2 points.

Scorecard is available HERE.

By Pete Johnson