Seconds draw friendly with Notts

Scorecard

REPORT | By Pete Johnson

Leicestershire played Nottinghamshire in a two-day SEF at Broomleys CC on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 August. This was our Second XI’s first ever visit to Broomleys CC, whose ground is based on the outskirts of Coalville.

Broomley’s ground has a pronounced slope from the Pavilion End towards the distant Cemetery End. The only movement behind the bowlers arm at the Cemetery End could only be of the supernatural variety.

This ground is no doubt on the ‘bucket list’ of first-class umpire Neil ‘Ghostie’ Mallender. He would be in his element officiating at the Cemetery End.

The scorers sit in a structure adjacent to the pavilion, which is somewhat ‘snug’, as one needs a shoe horn to enter, and a can opener to get out. The accommodation is complimented by a panoramic view of the nearby Broomleys Cemetery.

The scorers' retreat joins the nerve centre of any cricket ground, the Groundsmen’s shed. During the match Mick the Groundsman had to unblock the toilets, and charge up the batteries for the scoreboard, in addition to tending his hallowed turf. I am sure all Club Groundsman can empathise with such duties.

There was no toss made, and Leicestershire took first knock. There was a small cluster of spectators present to witness the opening rituals. Aadil Ali and Harry Dearden opened the innings. Ali was somewhat circumspect but treated the occasional ball with his accustomed brutality.

Dearden, as always, ‘did what it said on the tin’. The pair had added 41 when Dearden (17 from 19 balls) got underneath a ball from seamer Matt Milnes, it spiralled into the air, and he was caught at mid wicket by Dom Brown.

Tom Wells had made a run a ball 14 when he was adjudged lbw to medium pacer Dom Brown. Rob Sayer, batting at number 4, had made 18 from 20 balls when he was bowled by Brown. Zak Chappell joined Ali, and the pair had added 20 when Chappell (8) was caught at cover by Brown off spinner Matt Carter. Brown now had a hand in all four wickets that had fallen to date.

Ali went to a workmanlike half-century from 91 balls (9x4/1x6). His maximum being a massive hit over long-on, off Carter, that landed in the cemetery.

In the next over after passing 50, Ali (53 from 94 balls) was bowled by Ben Kitt, the paceman having returned for a second spell at the Pavilion End. County went into lunch on 156-5 from 34 overs, Rob Taylor 8*, Michael Burgess 18*.

Burgess having made one effortless cover drive that thudded into the ankle of Anuj Dal at cover, forcing the unfortunate fielder to have to leave the field after on-field attention by the physio. Only five runs had been added after lunch when Taylor (8) was bowled by Milnes.

Burgess was batting as busily as ever. In my opinion he always displays a sense of urgency when at the crease. Burgess (23 from 19 balls) departed the fray when trapped lbw by Milnes.

Sam Evans had come in at a somewhat unaccustomed position for him of number 8. Some weeks back I nicknamed a player ‘the Recluse’ because he was difficult to get out, well Evans is the Postman, as he always delivers.

Evans made 25 from 36 balls, including taking paceman Kitt for three boundaries, the postie eventually going caught and bowled by Brown. Prior to this James Sykes (1) was very quickly in and out of the salon, being bowled by Kitt.

Young leg-spinner James Dickinson made a patient 8* from 24 balls, and last man David Sayer (8) went bowled by Carter, facing 7 balls. County closed on 213 from 48.5 overs.

Notts batted for 14 overs before tea, and during that time lost Greg Smith (0) bowled by Chappell, and Gibson (0) caught at third slip by Sykes off Chappell.

Opener Joe Barrett was leading a very charmed life, and was but down 3 times in the slips off David Sayer, Ollie Freckingham and Chappell. One being a somewhat difficult chance put down off Sayer, by a relation of his in the slip cordon. Notts went into tea on 43-2 from 14 overs, Barrett 27* Dal 10*.

After tea, Freckingham was bowling a spell down the hill from the Pavilion End whereby he went past the outside edge on numerous occasions, and was having no luck whatsoever. I came to the conclusion that if Frecko ever went to a U2 concert he would miss The Edge there as well. (My musical knowledge knows no bounds). Freckingham is a real big-hearted competitor who always gives it everything.

Freckingham finally got the reward he deserved when Barrett (42) succeeded in getting a bat on one, and snicked behind to ‘keeper Burgess. Rob Sayer then completely bamboozled Notts keeper Tom Keast (0) comprehensively bowling him.

Sykes then replaced Sayer at the Cemetery End and played havoc completely ripping out the Notts lower middle order, at one stage having figures of 4-6.

Brown (1), Carter (4) and Kitt (0) were bowled, and Blatherwick (0) was stumped by Burgess. Amidst this carnage young leg-spinner Dickinson picked up a wicket with his third ball when he enticed the obdurate Dal (43)  forward and ‘tricky Micky’ Burgess rattled off the bails. At stumps on day 1 Notts were 143-9 from 52 overs trailing by 70 runs. Milnes 13* Franks 22*.

This last-wicket stand prospered at the start of Day 2, and the pair took their alliance to 79 runs, the 50 partnership coming up from 83 balls. The score had reached 183 when Franks (39 from 40 balls) pulled a delivery from Rob Sayer into the safe hands of Rob Taylor at wide long-on. Notts all out for 183 from 60.3 overs, trailing by 30 runs.

Ali and Dearden again opened up for County, and brought up their 50 partnership from 104 deliveries. Ali went to his second half century of the match (6x4/1x6) from 76 balls, the 100 partnership coming up from 160 balls.

Dearden was playing a fine supporting role, but went when he had made 31 from 75 balls, smacked one from spinner Sam Wood, that went like a rocket into the hands of Matt Carter at cover. The pair adding 106 for the first wicket, the highest partnership of the match.

Wells (6) dragged one on to his stumps from Kitt, and Rob Sayer (0) was given out caught at short-leg by Barrett again off Wood. Chappell joined Ali, and the pair set about the bowling with relish, both batsmen depositing Wood for maximums.

Ali’s fine knock came to an end when he was on 92 (9x4/2x6, from 125 balls) when he was caught in the deep by Milnes off Carter. County declared their innings on 199-4 from 46 overs. Chappell 41* from 40 balls, and Rob Taylor 16* from 21.

Notts were challenged to get 230 to win from a minimum of 47 overs a rate of 4.89 per over. They had 7 overs to bat before tea, and for the second time in the match Smith (0) was bowled by Chappell.

Shortly afterwards Chappell picked up a second wicket thanks to Evans. Wood (20) absolutely middled one, but Evans took a superb diving catch at cover, one handed with his right hand, inches from the ground. I likened the ball to when you see swallows flying parallel to the ground in high summer. It was a superlative catch by Evans and you would have to go a very long way to see a better one.

Notts went into tea on 24-2. I did notice that during the interval our old friend Greg Smith gave the pears a very wide berth! Only a further 12 overs were possible after tea, and when the light closed in at around 5.25pm the umpires took the players from the field as a result of bad light with Notts on 67-2. Barrett 17*, Dal 25*. That was the final act as the teams shook hands on a draw.

Sincere thanks to everyone at Broomleys CC for accommodating this match at such short notice. Especially Mick Concannon for all his hard work on the ground, and Ted and Jacob his two helpers from the junior side of the club, and to Janet, Sonia and Mandy for all their hard work on the catering side.