Second XI start T20 campaign
Fri 29 Apr 2016
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Lewis Hill made a brace of half-centuries as Leicestershire Second XI opened their T20 campaign at Derbyshire today.
We turned up at the 3aaa County Ground at Derby and actually felt quite at home in view of all the building work that was taking place. It was another very cold day, with a fierce wind rattling across the ground.
There were 11 die-hard spectators present, it must have been so cold that our old friend Chris chose to view the game from side on to escape the cold wind. First time I have seen him vacate his ‘behind the bowler's arm position’.
However, the scorers had the warmest room in the house, sharing it with the groundstaff who were having their own sports quiz. The break between innings rudely interrupted their enjoyment.
The day's play ended all square with Derbyshire winning 1 game and Leicestershire 1 game.
In game 1, Derbyshire won the toss and batted. The home side made 166-5 in their 20 overs. Ben Slater making 65, his 50 coming from 37 balls (6x4/1x6).
In reply County looked to have the game in the bag after Aadil Ali shared stands of 47 with Michael Burgess (29) and 55 with Hill, their 50 partnership coming from 30 balls.
Ali (40) departed with the score on 102 after 12.2 overs, so County required 65 from 7.4 overs. Tom Wells (5) and Leo Cammish (8) went either side of Hill cruising to a fine half-century (6x4/31 balls). Hill eventually went for a sparkling 55.
When it came to the last over 22 were required to win. Adam Tillcock smacked Rob Hemmings' first three balls for four, then a leg bye was scampered. Rob Sayer clubbed the fifth ball for six over long-on. Three runs were required off the last ball, but unfortunately it resulted in a bye. Tillcock 14* and Sayer 8*, Derbyshire winning by 1 run.
In game 2 County turned the tables. Derbyshire again won the toss and batted, but were restricted to 123-5. Tom Milnes top-scored with 54*, his 50 coming from 38 balls (6x4).
James Sykes (4-0-14-3) and Adam Tillcock (4-0-24-2) picked up the wickets between them with their left arm spin. Sykes bowling Thakor (14) and Hughes (1), and trapping Cork (2) in front. Tillcock having Slater (18) caught behind by Hill, and getting Knight (20) lbw.
County chased down the target from 19.2 overs, Burgess (1), Cammish (0), and Wells (10) went but then Ali and Hill resumed their alliance of the first innings.
However, both batsmen survived stumping chances off Slater, both deliveries going for four byes. The pair added 50 from 48 balls, and had shared 64 for the fourth wicket when Ali (26) was caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Tom Knight off Thakor.
Hill was looking very comfortable against the bowling and went to his second half-century of the day from 43 balls (4x4/1x6). Hill 65* and Tillcock 13* saw County over the finishing line on 127-4.
