SEF50 v Northamptonshire Steelbacks 2nd XI Match Report

Leicestershire 2nd XI took on Northamptonshire in a 50 over Friendly at Kibworth CC. A slight change to protocol was that Northamptonshire were the home side. Kibworth hosting, I believe, a Northamptonshire home game for the first time. Answers on a postcard please if anyone thinks otherwise.

Northamptonshire’s side was depleted of any regular 1st and 2nd XI players as the Steelbacks did not field any players within their Fist XI ‘bubble’. The very young Northamptonshire side, including a 15 year old, and a number of 16 year olds gave an extremely good account of themselves, eventually losing by 12 runs under the DLS method. A most creditable performance that will do much for their learning curve as they work to continue to establish themselves in the Northamptonshire framework.

Sam Evans skippered County, lost the toss, and his opposite number, Rohan Mehmi inserted Leicestershire.

Early morning rain had been evident in Kibworth, and the players were greeted by a dull, still morning when they took to the field.

Evans and Scott Steel opened the batting for the Foxes and raced to a 50 partnership from 35 deliveries. Steel chipping in with 5x4, and one maximum. County had reached 60 (7.5 overs) when Steel 35 (28b) was dismissed, and following his dismissal Northamptonshire clawed their way back into the game, reducing County to 147-7 from 29.1 overs.

There was a brief stoppage for rain at 12.14pm resulting in three overs being lost. County reasserted themselves through Will Davis (29) 49b and Gavin Griffiths (13) 27b applying themselves diligently to add an unbroken partnership of 37 for the eighth wicket, before rain took the players from the field at 2.10pm with Leicestershire on 184-7 from 39 overs.

The partnership of Davis and Griffiths would be well at home on a snooker table, as well as a cricket field. Cue the Luncheon Interval.

During the Leicestershire innings I took delivery of a consignment of Werthers Original from an esteemed local Umpire who shall remain nameless. Delivery on a par with Amazon.

The game was not able to recommence until 5.10pm due to persistent rain. During the three hour hiatus I had many a conversation with Quentin, the Northamptonshire Scorer, affectionately known as Q. You may recall that Q can rattle off the 31 Sea Area’s mentioned in the Shipping Forecast for the British Isles in precise order.

Q informed me, between my regular yawns, that he now has a new Cottage Industry of making audio tapes for insomniacs. Joking over, decent bloke is Q, good company.

Back to the cricket, Northamptonshire now having a target of 148 to win from 23 overs, thanks to the intricacy of DLS, and Northamptonshire reached 50 runs from 7.5 overs, a mirror image of Leicestershire’s start, but for the loss of 1 wicket.

Opener Arush Buchake was holding the innings together and belied his tender years with an enterprising 38 from 43 balls. Buchake was dismissed when he was caught by Sam Evans off Scott Steel, leaving Northamptonshire on 94-4 from 15.5 overs, just 3 runs behind the DLS par score at the time.

Two wickets fell in rapid succession soon afterwards to leave Northamptonshire on 101-6 from 18.1 overs. The light was closing in, and dark rain laden clouds gathering. At 6.34pm rain took the players from the field, turning into a downpour of biblical proportions before the players had got to the refuge of the pavilion.

Match Abandoned with four overs remaining. Northamptonshire on 107-6 from 19 overs. Leicestershire winning by 12 runs on DLS.

Recently contracted 16-year-old Rehan Ahmed taking 1-14 from his 4 overs, an impressive spell of leg spin bowling. Scott Steel weighed in with 2-13 from 2 overs. Griffiths, Nat Bowley and Abidine Sakande picking up a wicket each.

Sincere thanks to Steve Pollard and his team for their unstinting work in ensuring the maximum amount of play was possible in the day. A very big thank you also to Chrissy and Tom for their sterling work on all matters where a knife, fork, spoon, and cup come into play.

Scorecard available HERE.

By Pete Johnson