Seconds land key Trophy win
Tue 9 Aug 2016
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire won a fluctuating match against Warwickshire at Coventry & North Warwickshire CC in the Second XI Trophy by 54 runs.
In doing so County put one foot in the semi-finals as they marched to the top of the Northern Group with one game left to play. That game is away to Lancashire at Bowden CC on Thursday (August 11). A win for County will guarantee a home semi-final tie.
It was welcome to Carl Crowe who had ‘flown in’ to take over the role of Second XI Coach for the remainder of the season. Very best wishes to Carl as he embarks on another avenue of his coaching career.
A fresh morning greeted us upon arrival at the Binley Road ground of C & NWCC. Less than 24 hours ago I was in a cacophony of noise, vibrancy, and ‘in your face’ environment at Wembley watching City in the Community Shield. That was in stark contrast to the serenity and tranquillity of this peaceful August Monday morning.
There was a good number of spectators present for a 2nd XI game, and a good contingent of LCCC supporters. One of whom, Dave, was resplendent in a free issue t-shirt, one of which was draped over every seat in the ‘Leicester’ part of Wembley Stadium yesterday.
Tom Wells skippered County, called correctly, and elected to bat. Aadil Ali and Sam Evans opened up for County, and shared a crucial opening partnership that would prove vital in the outcome of the match.
They faced a Warwickshire opening attack that was generating much pace and considerable bounce. Both dealt with some quite hostile deliveries admirably. Sam Evans took four boundaries from Matt Spencer’s first 3 overs, and Ali took consecutive boundaries from ex-Leicestershire trialist Liam Hurt, and successive fours from Recordo Gordon, who had replaced Spencer.
Ali and Evans were showing much grit and resoluteness against many rising deliveries, both getting right behind the ball confidently. The pair brought up their 50 partnership from 46 balls.
When the score had reached 67, Ali (35) went back to spinner Ateeq Javid and was adjudged lbw. Lewis Hill joined Evans, and treated us to one of his trademark cuts. A surgeon could not have cut with more precision.
Hill (11) went caught at mid-wicket by Ed Pollock off leg-spinner Josh Poysden. A good catch by Pollock diving to his right. Hill’s body language gave the impression that he had a smidgeon of disappointment with himself.
Evans meanwhile was picking off singles from the majority of balls he was facing. Evans went to a splendid half-century (5x4) from 71 balls with the score on 122-2 from 22.5 overs.
Wells (17) went in a similar fashion to Hill, caught at mid-wicket, this time by Poysden off Matt Spencer. Wells’ demeanour on his dismissal suggesting he had a ‘Victor Meldrew’ moment saying to himself 'I don’t believe it.'
In the same over Michael Burgess (0) was bowled by Spencer. A double wicket maiden for Spencer, who had made his mark on proceedings. County now 122-4 from 26.5 overs. Evans was still soldiering on keeping the board ticking over with ones and twos.
Zak Chappell arrived at the crease, and tucked into the bowling with venom, revelling in despatching the ball through mid-wicket for 3 boundaries. Chappell (24) from 27 balls went caught at mid-wicket by Will Porterfield from a steepler off Javid.
The obdurate Evans had made 57 when he was run out from a direct hit by Porterfield in the cover area. Evans was running towards the business end whilst Harry Swindells was scampering up to the bowler’s end. A crucial innings from Evans, a member of the LCCC Academy, whose 57 came from 81 balls (5x4). I did mean to ask Sam if one H Swindells Esq is still on his Christmas card list.
James Sykes (2) went caught at long leg by Gordon off Hurt, while Swindells had made 19 from 27 balls when he was yet another batsman to be caught at mid-wicket, this time by Pollock off Poysden. County 190-8 from 42 overs.
Matt Stokes was getting himself set to ensure that County survived the 50 overs when Ollie Freckingham came to the wicket. We witnessed a frenetic frenzy from Freckingham. He pinged Hurt to the ropes, then lambasted Javid for two huge maximums. Stokes (12 from 25 balls) went caught behind by Harry Johnson off Spencer, leaving County on 216-9 from 46.1 overs.
Will Fazakerley joined Freckingham. The plucky paceman was not finished yet however, and drilled Gordon for successive boundaries, and in the next over dispatched Spencer for yet another huge maximum, immediately followed by a boundary. You normally associate sparks with Spencer (if you have a Sparks Card of course), but all the rockets here were coming from Freckingham, the man was on fire.
Freckingham, who made 38 from just 23 balls, departed bowled by Spencer, when trying to put a delivery onto the roof of the nearby Bulls Head pub. Fazakerley (5*) from 10 balls played a good supporting role to enable County to close on 240 from 49 overs.
The duo then combined early in the Warwickshire innings. Freckingham opened the bowling for County, and with his second ball invited Porterfield (0) to offer a simple chance to Fazakerley at cover. Chappell took the new ball alongside Freckingham and it was good to see him back in bowling action.
A partnership then developed between Liam Banks and Pollock that threatened to turn the game in Warwickshire’s favour. The pair brought up their 50 partnership from 43 balls and their alliance had reached 74 when Pollock (40) pulled Fazakerley, and was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary by Sykes.
Sixteen runs later, Banks (43 from 36 balls) was caught behind by keeper Hill off Wells, Warwickshire on 90-3 from 14.1 overs.
Matt Lamb (6) soon followed again going to the Hill/Wells combination. The dangerous Javid (12) joined Aaron Thomason at the crease but went lbw to Wells, who was bowling a very impressive spell from the Bulls Head End, and was a major contributor in directing Warwickshire to the Last Chance Saloon.
Sykes was bowling a miserly spell from the Pavilion End, and with the pressure building, Thomason (23) then went lbw to Freckingham, who had replaced Wells at ‘the Pub End’.
‘Keeper Johnson was proving difficult to dislodge and was joined by Liam Hurt. Hurt hit Freckingham for a maximum towards a cluster of spectators assembled at long on.
One gentleman - keep this to yourself but it was Chris Stone - was relaxing in his chair, when he nonchalantly rose from his seat, and pouched the catch in just ‘run of the mill fashion’, and returned the ball to the nearest fielder in a very dismissive manner. It was a brilliant catch with the minimum of fuss.
Hurt (23 from 26 balls) was bowled by the third ball delivered by Ali at the Bulls Head End. Credit to Ali - and to Wells for an inspired bowling change with Warwickshire now 170-7 from 32.3 overs.
The innings soon folded, lasting only another 5.1 overs as Sykes wrapped things up. Gordon was caught behind by Hill before Johnson (21) went caught and bowled by the spinner. Spencer (1) was caught in the square leg area - by who other than Freckingham.
Sykes finished with 3-23 with Wells also taking a three-for as Warwickshire were all out for 186 from 37.4 overs, County winning by 54 runs.
