Seconds On Verge of Victory After Super Day At Kibworth

By Pete Johnson

Day two of the SEC game between Leicestershire and Durham at Kibworth CC proved to be an outstanding day for the Foxes, during which they put themselves in with an excellent chance of victory.

The day finished with Durham needing a further 213 runs to beat Leicestershire with just three second innings wickets in hand. There were a number of eye catching performances for the Foxes. Will Davis returning career best SEC bowling figures of 6-43 in Durham’s first innings. Nick Welch made an impressive 90 in Leicestershire’s second innings, ably backed up by Harry Swindells with 67, and a solid 32 from Roman Walker, to go with his unbeaten half century in County’s first knock.

It was yet another chilly morning when the players took to the field, both umpires resplendent in snoods to combat the extremely cold air. A sprinkling of spectators, stalwarts one and all in attendance, duly attired to combat the elements.

Durham resuming on 123-7, trailing Leicestershire by 80 runs. Wiaan Mulder was not present today, having departed to join up with the First Team squad.

It took just 20 minutes for the Foxes to wrap up the Durham first innings. Overnight not out batters, George Drissell (11) bowled, and Stan McAlindon (3) lbw both victims for Will Davis. Davis who had been eagerly bounding in from the Fleckney End claiming figure of: 15.4-4-43-6.  Career best SEC figures for Davis, eclipsing his previous best figures of 5-52 v Yorkshire at Kibworth in 2019. Hoping Davo’s Sky Blues show the same application in their Play Off showdown next Monday!

The other wicket to fall in Durham’s first innings was a run out, when Academy Member Rishan Herath arrowed a throw into keeper Harry Swindells from the deep, to run out Luke Robinson (2) when he was attempting a second run. Durham 131 all out, Leicestershire leading by 72 runs.

Leicestershire were pegged back early in their innings when Sam Evans (10) and Louis Kimber (0) were both victims for Mitch Killeen from successive deliveries. Leicestershire 31-2 from 6.4 overs. Durham did not have any further success before lunch as Nick Welch and Harry Swindells put County in a strong position.

The pair posted a 50 partnership from 52 balls, when Welch deposited seamer Jonny Bushnell over long off for a maximum. 77-2 from 15.1 overs. Welch then went to his 50 (10x4/1x6) 53b from the next delivery, guiding the ball down to the unguarded third man boundary. Leicestershire into lunch on 105-2 from 20 overs. Welch 59* Swindells 31*.

During the morning’s play, two chaps, in an adjacent field at the Fleckney End, had caught my eye painting a nearby electricity pylon. I kept checking their progress through my binoculars. Both wearing harnesses and duly roped up to the pylon, starting at the very top, working their way down, and painting it gold.

Any health and safety gurus in the immediate area would have had their eyes lighting up at the multitude of boxes that needing ticking before anyone embarked on ascending said pylon. It took them some seven hours to paint the pylon from top to bottom, far be it from me to say ‘you missed a bit’ when they finally reached terra firma.

In the 5^th over after lunch, Welch and Swindells brought up their 100 partnership from 106 deliveries. 134-2 from 24.1 overs. Some three overs later, Welch’s fine innings came to an end when he was caught at deep mid wicket. Welch (90) 94b, sharing in a stand of 122 (129b) with Swindells.

A further eight runs had been added when Zen Malik (4) was expertly caught behind by keeper Tom Mackintosh, diving to his right, to pouch a delivery from seamer Luke Robinson. Unfortunately for Malik only One Direction for him to go......back to the Pavilion, Leicestershire 161-4 from 31.6 overs.

In the next over, Swindells went to his 50 (7x4) 69b, when he took two runs down to third man off spinner George Drissell. A further four overs had elapsed when Scott Steel (1) was a victim for Drissell.

Shortly afterwards, Swindells (67) 85b was another victim for Drissell when he attempted a scoop shot and was caught down the leg side. On reflection The Swindler may leave anything to do with scoops to newspaper reporters in the future. A superb innings from Swindells helping to put the Foxes into a very strong position. Swindells having had to face a hat-trick ball when he came to the crease. 

A further 51 runs were added after Swindells departure before the innings came to a close. Roman Walker (32) 57b adding a ‘bit of glue’, and stability, to the lower middle order. Walker being the dominant partner in brief alliances with Herath (2), Davis (4), and Liam Tew 0*. Leicestershire 232 all out, at 4.05pm, from 56.1 overs, leading by 304 runs. Pick of the bowlers for Durham being Drissell with figures of 14.1-4-18-5. Tea was taken, with 32 overs remaining in the day.

In the 32 overs that remained, Leicestershire took a stranglehold on the game reducing Durham to 92-7 at stumps. Davis and Walker quickly picking up two wickets apiece to dismiss the first four batters.

First to go was Durham skipper Ben McKinney (20) caught at mid off by Sam Evans off Walker. Evans showing his remarkable juggling skills, when taking the catch at the second attempt. Harry Crawshaw, (6) and Bas de Leede (5) were then both lbw victims for Davis. Walker making it a trio of lbws when he trapped Ross Whitfield (3) in front. Durham 36-4 from 11.1 overs.

A couple of overs later, Mackintosh (1) was superbly caught at second slip by Louis Kimber off Davis. Kimber snaffling the catch close to the ground, which is quite a long one down for one so tall. 37-5 from 12.5, an outside chance of the game being over in two days.

Bushnell (10) was bowled by Sam Wood. Durham 59-6 from 21.5, with a minimum 10.1 overs remaining in the day. Wood then took a blinder of a catch to have Killeen (18) caught and bowled. Wood taking the ball, travelling at speed, inches from the ground. An even longer way down for Wood than Kimber. Wood not the only ‘Big Sam’ to be mentioned in sporting despatches today. Durham 80-7 from 25.4.

Drissell (20*) and McAlindon (2*) saw Durham into stumps on 92-7 needing a further 213 runs to avoid defeat. Davis picking up three wickets in Durham’s second innings to give him nine wickets so far in the match. Kibworth’s much valued catering staff on high alert in preparation for an early lunch on day three!