Seconds have tough day at Northants
Tue 19 Apr 2016
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
What a contrast in weather for day two of this Second XI Championship encounter! Yesterday’s extremely cold and cloudy conditions gave way to a bright sunny morning, although a somewhat chill wind blew across Wantage Road at the start of play. Such a turnaround in the weather however, would even turn ace weather watcher Carol Kirkwood into a gibbering wreck.
After having negotiated my way up the never ending 42 steps to the Scorers Suite, I could empathise with how climbers felt on the last leg of their ascent of Mount Everest when coming to The Hilary Step. I had The Turner Step(s) to ascend. As the days play unfolded we had a little competition going as to how many songs we could think of with the word ‘Step’ in them. Any answers on a postcard please. Madness I know, but there’s a clue in there to a song!
The day developed into a long and arduous day in the field for Leicestershire. Northamptonshire resumed on their overnight score of 92-0, with Sean Terry 32* and Jake Libby 55*. The pair pushed the score along comfortably even though skipper Tom Wells was changing his bowlers on a regular basis.
Terry, who is the son of ex Hampshire and England player Paul Terry, moved to his 50 (8x4) from 44 balls. The pair brought up their 100 partnership from 133 balls, and their 150 partnership from 214 balls.
When the score had reached 187 County got their first wicket when Libby (86) was bowled by Rob Taylor. Sam Arthurton joined Terry, but was soon on his way, trapped in front by Rob Taylor for 4. Northamptonshire went into lunch on 199-2 from 53 overs, Terry 91*, Murphy 2*.
Just after lunch Terry survived a run out, Freckingham made a smart pick up, and with one stump to aim at narrowly missed the target with Terry short of his ground. Terry moved to his century (12x4) from 193 balls. A good solid innings. The score had advanced to 240, with Terry on 106, when he was lbw to Wells.
Graeme White joined David Murphy. White (6) did not last for long before becoming the third lbw victim of the innings, this time the bowler was James Sykes. Said Zaib joined Murphy, and the pair added 109 for the 5th wicket. Murphy went to his 50 (5x4) from 91 balls.
The new ball was taken, and 10 overs were bowled with it prior to tea. Northamptonshire went into tea with the score on 330-4 from 90 overs. Murphy 61*, Zaib 44*. Shortly after tea, Zaib went to his 50 (5x4) from 82 balls. Not long afterwards he went very well caught, one handed by Liam Hurt off the bowling of Rob Sayer for 54.
That was to be the last success of the day for County as Will Rogers joined Murphy, and the pair took Northamptonshire into stumps on 437-5 from 123 overs. Murphy had moved to an impressive century (8x4, 1x6) from 153 balls. At the close Murphy was on 121* and Rogers 31*, Northamptonshire holding a lead of 153 going into the last day. Northamptonshire have accrued 8 points, and Leicestershire 5 points.
It was a tough day for the Foxes bowlers spending all day in the field, Wells using 9 bowlers in total, Rob Sayer weighing in with a marathon contribution of 32 overs. Everyone stuck to the task, and will be hoping to salvage something from the game tomorrow.
