Seconds suffer rare Championship loss
Wed 13 May 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
A Second XI Championship defeat is a rare thing for Leicestershire but sadly they suffered the fate by an innings and 58 runs inside two days at Durham today.
On arrival at Brandon CC we were greeted by sunny skies and much warmer weather than we had experienced over the past two days. Also thankfully, the strong wind that had been evident was no more, making bowling conditions somewhat easier, especially from the Durham End.
With Durham’s 1st XI home match having been concluded the previous day, there was a small cluster of spectators in attendance today, a cross section of Geordies, Mackems, and Smoggies, who all become as one when following Durham CCC. I was told the Brandon CC ground was reclaimed from the Coal Board in 1972, and it opened as a cricket ground in 1984.
Leicestershire resumed on their overnight 50-5 and Basit Zaman (5) went in the third over of the morning caught by Hickey off Coughlin. His overnight partner Peter Drysdale (11) soon followed caught and bowled by the lively Jamie Harrison, County losing two wickets without any addition to the score.
The first runs of the morning came from the last ball of the fifth over and the innings quickly came to a close. James Pearson (1) had one of his stumps cartwheeling out of the ground thanks to Coughlin. James Sykes (12) was caught by McCarthy off Coughlin and last man Atif Sheikh (2) had his furniture rearranged by Coughlin operating from the Durham End. County were all out for 66 from 27.5 overs.
County were asked to follow on and their second innings commenced at 11.45am. The remainder of the morning session saw Durham force home their advantage, sending County into lunch on 73-5 from 24 overs. Ironically Drysdale and Zaman were at the crease, as they were when play commenced this morning.
The luncheon interval produced a first for me at a cricket match, as no doubt it did for many others, stew and dumplings for lunch! They know how to feed ‘em t’up north! The batsman who showed the most resistance during the pre-lunch session of the second innings was Matt Pardoe (30), who went caught on the fine leg boundary from one off the middle.
Zaman (18) went in the third over after lunch. After which came some stubborn resistance from Drysdale and Sykes that lasted for 19 overs. Drysdale (44 from 105 balls), went expertly caught low down at slip by Gordon Muchall off young seamer Brydon Carse. ‘Stonewall’ Sykes (20) from 73 balls was next to go, again caught off Carse.
Ryan Pringle who had been bowling from the Scoreboard End tasted victory, and dipped in with the final two wickets having Pearson (18) caught from a skier and dismissing last man Sheikh (9) via catch by Muchall at slip.
The Sheikhster played some delightful shots but unfortunately did not make contact with the ball very often. He did however produce a reverse sweep from his batting portfolio that went for 4. Alex Wyatt was unbeaten on 5. County were dismissed for 172, losing by an innings and 58 runs.
The rather rotund lady was not called upon during the last rites as the ageing warbler Roger Whittaker was giving a recital of his hit record The Leaving of Durham Town (anyone the other side of 60 will know that one!)
Your dutiful Scorer may have missed out on the Clubhouse Bingo, which he had pencilled in his diary for 8 o’clock this evening, but will be retracing his steps this coming Saturday when looking for another full house from Leicester City as they take on Sunderland in the latest chapter of the Great Escape.
