Seconds On Back Foot Despite Jay Madan Defiance

By Pete Johnson

Jay Madan scored his second successive Second Eleven Championship half-century but Worcestershire continued to hold the upper hand after day three.

The hosts will take a lead of 258 runs with eight second innings wickets in hand into the final day at Bromsgrove School, with the Foxes facing a fight to save the game.

Worcestershire resumed from their overnight 345-9, Ben Gibbon 44*, Yadvinder Singh 1*. Leicestershire took the new ball at start of play, wrapping up the Worcestershire innings with the second ball of the morning when Gibbon (44) was caught by keeper George Maddy of the bowling Roman Walker. 

Maddy claiming a ‘keepers five-fer (three catches, and two stumpings). Nick Green leading wicket-taker for the Foxes with 3-54 off 10. 

The Foxes had progressed to 90-2 from 30 overs by the time lunch was called, Jay Madan 18*, Jamie Dunk 18*. The two wickets to fall were those of openers, Usman Minhas (18) caught at first slip by Gibbon off Harry Darley, and Sheridon Gumbs (26) who was bowled shouldering arms to a delivery from Henry Hawes. 

In the 5th over after Lunch, Dunk (19) was caught at second slip by Rob Jones off seamer Ramon Bailey. Leicestershire on 91-3. Maddy (8) went caught at the wicket by Henry Cullen from the first ball of pace bowler Yadvinder Singh’s 2nd spell. In the same over, Sam Wood (0) was also caught at the wicket by Cullen. Leicestershire on 106-5 from 45 overs. 

Meanwhile, Jay Madan had very patiently been building a solid innings, slowly but steadily accumulating runs, and developed a good mid innings partnership with Roman Walker. Madan struck three delightful boundaries in the 54th and 55th overs off seamers Gibbon and Singh. 

A couple of overs later, Madan went to his 50 (5x4) 134b when he took a single off left-arm spinner Tom Hinley. In the next over Madan and Walker brought up their 50 partnership (73b). 

In the last over before Tea, County lost two wickets Walker (24) 42b was caught by Cullen off Hawes, having posted a partnership of 61 for the 6th wicket with Madan, and Colby Dyer (0) went next ball bowled by Hawes. Tea was taken with the Foxes on 166-7 from 62 overs. Madan (61*) 155b.

Somewhat surprisingly, Hawes was replaced by Gibbon after Tea, thus being denied the chance of a hat trick! In the 5th over after Tea, Nick Green (12) was run out with County on 183-8 still needing a further 12 runs to avoid the follow on target.

Madan and Matt Salisbury assured that this challenge was achieved, but shortly after it had been done so Salisbury (4) was caught at 2nd slip by Jones off Gibbon. Madan then decided to open his shoulders and perished, caught at mid-on by Yadvinder Singh off Gibbon. 

An excellent effort by Madan (76) 180b. His innings contributed enormously towards the Leicestershire total. Leicestershire 197 all out, trailing by 148 runs. Ali Farooq 0*. 

Worcestershire commenced their 2nd innings with a minimum of 27 overs remaining in the day. After 8.5 overs issues with the ‘Bromsgrove Trench’ resurfaced at the Pavilion End, and the ground staff were called into action to make good the situation. Two overs were lost as a result. 

Rehaan Edavalath (9) went caught by Maddy off Salisbury. Worcestershire on 28-1 from 11.2. Opener Isaac Mohammed and Henry Cullen then posted a 50 partnership, the score on 78-1 from 18.5.

Mohammed went to his 50 (8x4) 62b, when the score reached 88-1 from 20.2. Leicestershire then claimed a wicket in the last over of the day when Cullen (38) 42b was run out going for a second run from a delivery by Nick Green. 

Cullen played the ball in the direction of square leg, Minhas fielded the ball, arrowed it into Maddy with Cullen just short of his ground. Worcestershire closing on 110-2 from 24.1 overs leading by 258 runs with eight second innings wickets in hand going into the final day. Mohammed (63*) 75b.