SEF V Yorkshire CCC 2nd XI Day Two Report

A prompt start was in order for Day 2 of the SEF between Leicestershire and Yorkshire at Kibworth CC.

104 overs of play scheduled. Yorkshire resumed on their overnight 19-1, trailing Leicestershire by 322 runs. Matthew Weston 13 not out, Will Luxton 0 not out.

Ed Booth and Jack Shutt were absent from Yorkshire’s 13-man squad today after having returned to Headingley. Harry Allinson, a member of Yorkshire’s Academy, called up as a replacement. Roman Walker replaced Ben Mike in the Leicestershire side.

Leicestershire had an encouraging day, dismissing Yorkshire for 204 in their first innings, a lead of 137 runs. Gavin Griffiths returning figures of 4-43. Leicestershire closed on 71-4, leading by 208 runs going into the third and final day.

County picked up two early wickets in the opening exchanges of the morning. Matthew Weston (18) was caught by Louis Kimber at second slip off Chris Wright. Shortly afterwards Will Luxton (3) was bowled by Ed Barnes. Yorkshire on 27 for 3 from 13.1 overs.

Ben Birkhead and Tom Loten then staged a mini recovery. Abi Sakande started his spell on a hat-trick after picking up two wickets with his final two deliveries in the 2nd XI match at Desborough last week. Birkhead successfully repelling Sakande’s hat-trick ball.

Birkhead and Loten had added 48 runs for the fourth wicket when Loten (16) was caught by keeper Harry Swindells off Gavin Griffiths. Two overs later Yash Vagadia (0) went to the Swindells/Griffiths combination. Yorkshire 81 for 5 from 31.1 overs.

In the last over before lunch, Matt Pillans (6) was caught at slip by Kimber off George Rhodes. Skipper Rhodes bringing himself into the attack for a couple of regulation overs of spin, just before lunch. Yorkshire into lunch on 93 for 6 from 37.4 overs. Birkhead 40 not out.

After lunch Birkhead and Harry Allinson then posted Yorkshire’s highest partnership of the innings. Birkhead went to his 50 (8x4) 97b, and the pair brought up their 50 partnership after being together for 81 balls. Yorkshire on 143 6 from 50.5 overs.

The partnership was broken when Allinson (18) 55b was caught in the gully by Rhodes who produced an absolute ‘worldie’ to snaffle the ball, travelling at speed, with his left hand off the bowling of Griffiths. Yorkshire 144 for 8 from 52.5 overs.

Dom Leech (14) was trapped in front by Griffiths leaving the Tykes on 163 for 9, still needing a further 28 runs to avoid the follow on. Last wicket pair James Mukherjee and Ben Cliff safely saw Yorkshire pass the follow on target adding 41 for the last wicket.

Tea was delayed as Yorkshire were 9 wickets down, and up to an extra 30 minutes could be played before we may sample the culinary delights on offer to us. At 4.16pm Leicestershire got the final wicket when Cliff (18) was caught by keeper Swindells off Rhodes. Cliff having to leave ‘the stage’. Yorkshire 204 all out from 71.4 overs. Mukherjee 27 not out. Gavin Griffiths leading the wicket taking with 4 for 43 from 14 overs. Good figures from from the unequivocal Evertonian. Leicestershire leading by 137 runs.

Just before the tea interval I lost a loyal companion that had been with me since the start of the season, my trusted and reliable pen ran out of ink, and I laid it to rest, surrounded by paper cups, in a nearby waste bin. Its replacement, a rather striking little maroon number, was straight out of the blocks, and hit the ground running.

Yorkshire made quick in roads into Leicestershire’s second innings, and County were reduced to 34 for 4 after 19 overs. Sam Evans (9) 25b went, caught at second slip by Luxton off Leech. Louis Kimber (0) 10b was lbw to Leech. George Rhodes (0) 8b was caught behind by Birkhead off Pillans. Harry Swindells (1) 15b was bowled by Cliff. No Summer Holiday for Batchelor Boy Swindells. I am sure that The Swindler will knock up a few runs The Next Time. (Even surprised myself there with how many Cliff Richard song titles I know!).

Hassan Azad who had been in from the start of the innings, and Scott Steel then stood firm to see that Leicestershire suffered no further losses before Close of Play. They more than doubled the score adding an unbroken partnership of 37 for the fifth wicket. At 6.54pm bad light stopped play for the day, with 9 overs of play remaining. Leicestershire on 71 for 4 from 31 over’s. Azad 33* (86b), Steel (22*) 44b. County leading by 208 runs.

By Pete Johnson