Seconds nudged out by Durham
Wed 27 Jul 2016
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
When we arrived at Desborough Town CC for the third day of the SEC match between Leicestershire and Durham we were greeted by early morning rain. I have seen rain in all of my many visits to this Northamptonshire nevada.
Thankfully the precipitation relented before the start of play, and following an Inspection by the Umpires at 10.00am, we were able to get underway at the scheduled start time of 11.00am.
An engrossing day’s play developed that kept us on the edge of our seats, with three results - a win for either side or a tie - all possible during the latter stages of play. A draw was out of the question.
Durham getting home by one wicket with 10 balls being bowled when the scores were level and Durham 9 wickets down.
This was despite the very best efforts of spin twins James Sykes (4-51) and Jigar Naik (2-32), and captain Tom Wells, who scored 182 runs off 293 balls and took 6-65 from 27.1 overs in this match.
Leicestershire resumed on their overnight 135-5, leading Durham by 52 runs. Wells 71*, Tom Nightingale 1*. The number of spectators present at the start of play was zilch, an all-time first this season.
If skipper Wells thought that he may have to nurse Nightingale through the opening overs of the day, he need not have worried, the youngster defending manfully against the opening attack of Graham Onions and Gurman Randhawa.
Nightingale was blocking more than a person on twitter who does not want any followers. Wells meanwhile was punishing any ball that merited ‘the treatment’, peeling off three boundaries from Onions 3rd over of the morning. Wells displaying that he knew his Onions.
Nightingale (7) was sent on his way when he was caught behind by Steve Bullen (having taken over the gloves on day 3) off the bowling of Randhawa. Although only making 7, Nightingale faced 53 balls, adding 38 with Wells for the 6th wicket. In this his first match for the 2nd XI, I have given Nightingale the name of The Recluse, as it is very difficult to get him out. His Auntie Florence would have been proud of him.
County now on 170-6 from 51.4 overs, a lead of 77. Wells was joined by Michael Burgess, who was having his first involvement in the game after being called into the first team earlier in the week. Two overs later Wells went to a magnificent - and thoroughly deserved century - (13x4/3x6) from 145 balls.
Had it not been for Wells’ contribution the Leicestershire innings would have been in somewhat disarray. With Wells and Burgess together the scoreboard ticked over at a healthy rate. Wells hit opposite number, Durham skipper and spinner Adam Hickey for a huge maximum.
Meanwhile Burgess was doing what Burgess does, busily and productively accumulating runs. Wells (111) finally departed when he was caught at mid-off by Onions off the bowling of Randhawa. County now 7 wickets down, leading by 133 runs. With Burgess still at the crease there was every chance of building a challenging lead.
Burgess has one unique shot, whereby he plays a very delicate stroke down to third man. He deployed this shot on a number of occasions, doing more late cuts than a barber on overtime. Burgess (35 from 47 balls) then went bowled by Randhawa. The score now 226-8, with County leading by 143 runs.
A further 16 runs were added to the total. Naik (14) being pinned in front by Randhawa, and Will Fazakerley (10) going in the same manner. Tom Craddock (0 not out) the undefeated batsman.
County all out for 242 (the same score as in their first innings), leaving Durham requiring 160 for victory, from a minimum of 64 overs.
Left arm spinner Randhawa bowled beautifully picking up 7-69 from 26.2 overs, his match figures making for good reading at 51.2-19-118-9. He bowled unchanged from the Farm Park End this morning rattling off 14.2 overs uninterrupted in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Reminded me somewhat of the wife as she can talk uninterrupted for the same amount of time, if not longer.
Durham had 10 minutes to bat before lunch, and we had the sight of Aadil Ali taking the new ball along with Atif Sheikh. Durham safely negotiated three overs and went into lunch on 18-0.
We then had an enthralling afternoon session, with the crowd having gone from zilch to double figures. After lunch Naik and Wells formed County’s attack, and first innings centurion Nick Hobson (6) was soon on his way, stumped by Burgess off Naik.
Durham skipper Adam Hickey was going at just over a run a ball, and had made 28 (including six boundaries), when Wells found his outside edge, and Ali safely pouched the catch at 2nd slip. Durham on 44-2 still needing 116 to win.
Wells then relieved himself, and brought on Sykes at the Farm Park End to accompany Naik in an all spin attack. In his first over Sykes bowled Bullen (12) with a beauty. As in the first innings, Sykes picking up a wicket in his first over.
Adeel Shafique (16) was next to go, playing one onto his stumps from Sykes. We then had a bit of ‘jiggery pokery’ when the irrepressible Naik enticed Onions (9) to play one into his pads that looped up to, and was just asking to be caught. Burgess did not need a second invitation to snaffle it. Durham now on 93-5, still needing a further 67 for victory.
Calum MacLeod was standing firm, and looked intent of seeing Durham home. If the Scotsman had any thoughts of independently going it alone he elected the wrong fielder when he played a ball into the off-side from Sykes. Fazakerley, in the area of point, swooped on the ball and fired it in over the stumps to Burgess, who whipped off the bails. Macleod (28) being correctly sent back by Randhawa, was short of his ground.
Randhawa (7) was then adjudged lbw, when attempting to sweep Sykes, and the Foxes were sensing victory with Durham on 110-7 still requiring 50 to win. Gavin Main (6) was then yet another victim for Sykes, being completely bamboozled by a magical delivery. Durham tottered into tea on 124-8, still requiring a further 36 runs to win. Harding 5* & Killeen 3*.
The session after tea however belonged to the Durham Second XI Coach Neil Killeen. Killeen had to don his whites as Stuart Poynter had been called into the first team after the end of play on day two.
Killeen rolled back the years in fending off the bowling, and although he was more known for preventing boundaries than hitting them, you wouldn’t have known it today. With the score having risen to 144-8 with just 16 runs needed, Wells tried one last throw of the dice and introduced Sheikh at the Field End.
With his 5th ball Sheikh rattled one into Harding’s pads and the umpire duly obliged. Harding gone for 15. This brought last man Gurjit ‘and horses’ Sandhu to the crease. I have added that to his name as that is the first thing that came to mind, as he followed the Coach (Killeen), who was at number 10. (Don’t panic Teresa May is still in situ).
Wells bowled a maiden next up, then there was a boundary, and three singles from Sheikh’s next over. Wells bowled another maiden. Then Killeen took successive boundaries from the 2nd and 3rd ball of Sheikh’s next over, and the scores were level.
Three dot balls from Sheikh followed. Wells then bowled yet another maiden in the pressure cooker situation. From the first ball of Sheikh’s next over Killeen scrambled through for a leg bye, Durham winning by a solitary wicket.
A total of ten balls were bowled with the scores level - a cracking game of cricket played in the right spirit by all involved. The overall winner being the game of cricket. Leicestershire 6 points, Durham 24 points. This brought to an end back-to-back SEC games at Desborough, with the result of last week’s game against MCCU being in doubt until the very last ball.
As we leave Desborough sincere thanks to Jason, Justin and Wayne for all their hard work on the ground, both before, during and after the game. Groundstaff do much unseen as well as seen work.
Also, to the Queen of the kitchen Elaine, a real harder worker who has really tantalised our taste buds over the past three days. Not forgetting her able helper Hayley, and also Luke who stepped up to the plate when asked to by his mother the mighty Elaine! Very sincere thanks again to all of you Desborough ‘Diamonds’.
One final, and very sincere thank you, and bon voyage to Coach Nic Pothas who is leaving Leicestershire CCC at the end of the week. Nic has overseen the Second XI for the vast majority of the season. It has been an absolute pleasure to get to know Nic, and we offer our very best wishes to him for the future. In cricket parlance, Go well Skegapotamus!
