SEC v Durham CCC 2nd XI Day One Report

Leicestershire embarked on their fourth SEC game of the season with a home game against Durham at Kibworth CC. Our record to date in the competition is Played 3, Won 2, Drawn 1.

There must be something about Kibworth CC and Leicester City winning trophies. I can still remember driving over to Kibworth for a game against Worcestershire on Tuesday 3 May 2016, the morning after Leicester City became Premier League Champions. Here we are some 5 years on, and now an FA Cup Final win to celebrate on the drive over, having just about come back down to earth from Saturday’s events at Wembley.

A sunny but somewhat cool mid-May morning greeted us upon arrival at Kibworth CC. It was very much a stop/start day, 30 overs being lost to a combination of rain and bad light. Leicestershire were dismissed for 191 in 51.1 overs, Scott Steel making an impressive 86. Durham were well-served by skipper and seamer Matthew Potts who returned figures of 6-39, and left arm spinner Liam Trevaskis 3-6. At stumps Durham were 13-1 in reply.

George Rhodes skippered Leicestershire, won the toss, and elected to bat.

Sam Bates and Rhodes opened up for Leicestershire facing an opening attack of Matthew Salisbury, and Potts. Durham claimed two wickets before rain forced the players from the field at 11.33am, the score on 28-2.

The batsmen out Bates 8 (12b) caught at mid wicket by Oliver Gibson, and Rhodes 8 (13b) who was bowled by Potts. 37 minutes were lost to rain before a resumption could be made. Harry Dearden then notched up six boundaries in another truncated session of play, during which Nick Welch 6 (13b) was adjudged lbw to Potts.

At 12.46pm rain again took the players off the field Dearden 35* (48b) and Steel 0* (8b). Lunch was taken with Leicestershire on 61-3 from 15.3 overs. A heavy deluge of rain during the Lunch interval arrived, with the Kibworth groundstaff under the leadership of Steve Pollard working extremely hard to get the ground playable. Play was unable to resume until 3.30pm, immediately after the tea Interval had been taken.

Dearden 35 (50b) was caught at first slip by Sean Dickson off Potts from the second ball after the restart, Leicestershire 61-4 from 15.5. Steel and Dylan Church then forged an impressive partnership to successfully rebuild the innings. Church displaying maturity beyond his age, and like his name may suggest showed the patience of a Saint, whilst Steel was the aggressor.

The pair brought up their 50 partnership from 73 deliveries, the patient Church contributing just 4, but playing an admirable foil to Steel who plundered 38. Steel went to his 50 (59b, 5x4, 2x6), when he delightfully drilled Salisbury through extra cover to the ropes.

Steel and Church brought up their 100 partnership (120b), the score on 162-4 from 35.4 overs. The score had reached 175, the pair having added a further 14 runs, when Church 22 (72b) was caught behind by keeper Tom Mackintosh off the bowling of Salisbury.

Steel (86) 96b was next to go when he was trapped in front by Potts. Leicestershire 188-6 from 45.4 overs.

The final four wickets only added a further three runs. Will Davis 10 (29b) was stumped by Mackintosh off left arm spinner Trevaskis, who then bowled Max Law 0 (9b). Shortly afterwards at 5.49pm there was stoppage for Bad Light. Play resumed some 26 minutes later. Abidine Sakande 0 (2b) was caught at mid-wicket by Luke Doneathy off Trevaskis. Jarred Lysaught 1 (9b) was the final wicket to fall caught at second slip by Dickson off Potts. Uday Modhwadia 0* (5b). Leicestershire 191 all out from 51.1 overs.

Six overs remained in the day, during which time Durham lost Sean Dickson 11 (11b) when he was caught in the gully by Dearden off the bowling of Davis. Good to see Davis back bowling again after he continues his rehabilitation on return from injury. Durham closed on 18-1, Cameron Bancroft 7* (21b) and Michael Jones 0* (4b). Leicestershire 0 points, Durham 3 points.

by Pete Johnson