SEF V Yorkshire CCC 2nd XI Day One Report

Kibworth CC were hosts for a 3 Day 2nd X1 Friendly between Leicestershire and Yorkshire. There had been early morning rain at Kibworth, so the start was delayed until 12 noon, with 16 overs of the days play having been lost. Day 1 would now consist of 88 overs.

Leicestershire had a good day, after finding themselves 50-5, they subsequently rallied superbly to progress to 341 all out. Scott Steel top scoring with 70, and Max Law weighing in with 61. County’s tail also wagging like a dog, upon being reacquainted with its owner, having not seen them for 6 months. Yorkshire closed on 19-1, trailing by 322 runs.

George Rhodes skippered County, his opposite number Ben Birkhead called correctly, and deciding to insert the Foxes. It was a bright, clear morning when play got underway.

After just 14.4 overs Leicestershire found themselves in trouble on 50-5. Hassaan Azad (6) caught at third slip by Yash Vagadia off Matt Pillans. George Rhodes (6) caught at second slip by Will Luxton, again off Pillans. Sam Evans caught behind by Birkhead off Dominic Leech. Louis Kimber (9) caught at fourth slip by James Mukherjee off Ed Booth. Ben Mike (1) caught at mid wicket by Leech off Booth. The early moisture in the wicket paying dividends for the Tykes.

Harry Swindells and Scott Steel then set about staging a recovery, and built a partnership. Leicestershire went into Lunch on 92-5 from 23 overs. Steel thumping the last ball before Lunch over mid wicket for a maximum.

In the second over after Lunch the Foxes version of the SAS (Swindells and Steel) brought up their 50 partnership from 63 deliveries.

Swindells had played a solid innings, and had advanced to 32 from 68 deliveries when he was bowled by Pillans. Foxes on 122-6 from 27.4 overs.

Max Law joined Steel, and the Academy youngster proved the lynchpin of the second half of the Leicestershire innings.

Steel went to his 50 (9x4/1x6) 44 balls when he clipped Mukherjee to the ropes to the third man area.

Steel (70) 58b was caught at long leg by Vagadia off Leech. Steel really showing his metal with an enterprising knock, going at over a run a ball.

Law who up until now had concentrated on occupying the crease began to find the boundary intermittently.

Ed Barnes had joined Law at the crease and the ex White Rose man flourished. Law and Barnes posted a 50 partnership from 53 balls, from the last ball before Tea, when Law clipped Loten, along the ground through the slip cordon to the boundary.

Leicestershire went into Tea on 211-7 from 49 overs.

In the 8th over after Tea, Barnes (38) 63b went caught behind by Ben Birkhead off Ben Cliff. Cliff delivering ‘all the right notes’, and receiving Congratulations from his team mates.

Leicestershire 241-8 from 56.1 overs. Chris Wright joined Law, and was feasting on the bowling, scoring at a run a ball.

Law and Wright rattled up a 50 partnership from 57 balls, the score on 294-8 from 65.3 overs. 

Wright (44) 42b was out to the next delivery, stumped by Birkhead off left arm wrist spinner (aka Chinaman) Sam Wisniewski.

Law went to his 50 (6x4) from 118 balls when the score reached 312-9 from 70.2. A maiden 2nd X1 half century for Law, who certainly brought some order to the innings during his time at the crease.

Gavin Griffiths (25*), contributed admirably to a partnership of 47 for the tenth wicket, along with Law. Griffiths depositing seamer Loten for a humungus maximum, that was still on the up when it passed by the pavilion. Leicestershire’s innings came to a close when Law (61) 141b was caught in the deep by Booth off Vagadia. Leicestershire all out 341 from 77.3 overs. Matt Pillans was the leading wicket taker for Yorkshire with 3-55 from 14 overs.

Yorkshire had 8 overs to bat in the remainder of the day, and Leicestershire gained a breakthrough when James Wharton (6) 19b shouldered arms to a ball from Chris Wright, and was bowled.

At close of play Yorkshire 19-1 from 8 overs, trailing by 322 runs.

By Pete Johnson