Seconds on top against Derbyshire
Wed 14 Sep 2016
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
The weather overlords were predicting the hottest September day since 1973 for day two of this Second XI Friendly encounter between Leicestershire and Derbyshire. It was comforting therefore that the scorers are incarcerated in one of the coldest scoreboxes on the Second XI circuit.
When not in use in high summer, Eskimos visiting the UK are queuing up to spend time in this stoic structure to remind them of their homeland.
There was a minor hiccup prior to the start of the days play when Elaine, the Queen of the Kitchen, at this Desborough retreat, realised she had left the ice cream at home. Artisan that she is, she immediately sped off back to her house to rectify the situation.
County had a good day in the field, dismissing Derbyshire for 252 to take a lead of 129 runs. They were briefly held up by a seventh wicket partnership of 53, but had the Peakites all out before tea.
After some early alarms in County’s second innings Lewis Hill played a captains innings steering the ship, ably supported by Harry Swindells late in the day. Count held a lead of 249 runs with five second innings wickets remaining, when play was brought to a halt because of bad light.
The sun was on top form when the players took to the field, Derbyshire resuming on their overnight 51-2, Chris Whittock 23* and Ben Slawinski 6*, trailing Leicestershire by 330 runs.
Ollie Freckingham and Ben Raine opened the attack for County, Freckingham coming in from the Farm End. In his second over of the morning Freckingham bowled Whittock (27) with a ball of full length.
A couple of overs later Freckingham had a confident caught behind appeal against Cork turned down. Freckingham was bowling a good spell, and in his seventh over of the morning trapped Slawinski lbw. Derbyshire on 92-4 from 24.3 overs.
Freckingham’s spell came to an end at the end of the over, he had returned figures of 2-24 off seven overs this morning. Zak Chappell had replaced Raine at the Field End, and was building up a very brisk pace.
Rob Hemmings joined Danish Hussain at the wicket, but Hussain (6) hit the first ball of a Tom Wells over to Harry Swindells at backward point, who made an outstanding catch. If you have not seen ‘The Swindler’ he has a somewhat diminutive frame, but is a very lithe and energetic individual.
The Ivanhoe Icon propelled his body in a forward trajectory, and scooped the ball just above the ground with his knuckles brushing the grass. The deportment of his body when taking the catch would have got a 10 for artistic Impression in the floor exercises at the Olympic Games. His legs and feet were absolutely symmetric when airborne. The catch was purely Max Whitlockesque.
With the last ball of the same over Wells had Cork (46) caught by Zak Chappell at cover. Derbyshire on 135-6. Hemmings (12*) and Ben Cotton (4*) took Derbyshire into lunch on 149-6 from 44 overs.
After digesting my lunch I took the opportunity to circumnavigate the outfield in an effort to thaw out in the warm sun. Jane, the Derbyshire Scorer, acted as my chaperone for my early afternoon perambulation.
Hemmings and Cotton posted their 50 partnership after lunch from 90 deliveries. Soon afterwards Hemmings brought up his own half century (5x4/2x6) from 83 balls. They had added 63 runs when hemming (58) was caught in the deep mid wicket area by Freckingham off Sykes. The ball taking a very low flat route to Freckingham’s ‘mits’.
Next man in Rob Peat was lbw to Sykes first ball. Derbyshire on 229-9, still needing two runs to avoid the follow on. Last man Dan Gibbs swung the bat putting on 23 with Sam Hunt for the last wicket. Gibbs (18) went caught at mid on by Freckingham off Raine. Derbyshire all out for 252 from 71 overs, Leicestershire holding a lead of 129 runs.
County had 11 overs to bat before tea, and stumbled in for their sarnies on 25-2. Aadil Ali (0), dragging the fourth ball of the innings onto his stumps, and Wells (1) trapped lbw by Ben Cotton. Hill 12 not out, and Sam Evans 7 not out at tea.
In the third over after tea, Evans (9) edged a delivery from Greg Cork to keeper Sam Hunt, leaving County on 32-3. Raine (9) was bowled by Rob Peat, and Zak Chappell (18) was caught at short third man by Sam Kershaw off Slawinski.
Lewis Hill was standing steadfast, and playing a real captain’s innings. Hill was employing his trademark square cut to any delivery meriting it, and was also defending solidly. Hill brought up his half-century (8x4) from 96 balls.
Swindells had joined Hill, and was playing an innings of maturity in total contrast to his age of just 17 years. Just after going to his 50, Hill gave off-spinner Slawinski the treatment taking 14 from an over, including a maximum that clattered into the sightscreen.
With the light worsening the Umpires abandoned play for the day because of bad light, with five overs remaining. County going in on 120-5 from 38 overs with Hill 64* and Swindells 12*. A lead of 249 runs going into the final day.
