Sheikh takes five for Seconds
Wed 29 Jun 2016
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire entertained Warwickshire in a SEC match at Desborough Town CC. The home of Desborough Town CC adjoins a Farm Park that is a very popular attraction for children of Primary School age. You can hear the children busily chattering away as a backdrop to the cricket.
Whilst still in a state of shock from England’s exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of Iceland, I was pleased that Aadil Ali was involved in the First XI game at the FCG. My mind was in such a post Euro turmoil, and had he been playing at Desborough, I may well have reported on Deli Alli racking up a splendid half century, and Aadil Ali slamming a screamer into the top corner from 30 yards.
The Scorers at Desborough Town CC are housed in a building that is ‘work in progress’, that is nearing completion, but is perfectly adequate to observe and record the day’s proceedings. We look out at very pleasant countryside in the distance in the direction of Corby. Although Desborough is in Northamptonshire, this is a home match for Leicestershire.
Tom Wells was skippering County, and his opposite number Will Porterfield called correctly, and elected to bat. With the first ball of the day Atif Sheikh charging in from the West Lodge Rural Park End (I will refer to it as the Farm Park End), bowled Porterfield.
At the end of the first over Warwickshire were 2 for 1, which for some reason made me think of offers in supermarkets, you have guessed it Iceland springs to mind. Ateeq Javed had joined Ian Westwood at the crease. Soon afterwards Westwood, still to get off the mark, offered a sharp chance to first slip off Sheikh.
Ollie Freckingham, coming up the hill from the Car Park End, opened the attack with Sheikh. Javed took a sharp blow on the forearm from Sheikh, who was working up a rapid pace. Javed required on-field treatment before resuming his innings.
The pair had progressed the score to 67 when Freckingham, now having switched to the Farm Park End, proved a bit of a bogey to Westwood, having him caught at second slip by Harry Dearden for 28, a somewhat under par score for the Warwickshire opener.
With the score having advanced by just one run Freckingham trapped Javed (29) in front. Matt Lamb and Aaron Thomason set about repairing the damage. Zak Chappell replaced Freckingham, and it was good to see him running in to bowl again in competitive action.
Thomason (10) was another lbw victim this time to the returning Sheikh at the Farm Park End. Lamb (18*) and Alex Mellor (2*) took Warwickshire into lunch on 100-4 from 34 overs. With a name like Lamb you must approach the dining room with a bit of trepidation, and be somewhat uncomfortable at the mention of mint sauce.
After lunch the pair progressed the score to 125 before Lamb (35) went caught behind by keeper Michael Burgess off Sheikh. Lamb not having the opportunity to roast the bowling, or rack up a few more runs.
George Panayi found it hard going against the hostile Sheikh, deflecting an early ball he received onto his helmet. Panayi (0) went soon afterwards bowled by Sheikh, leaving Warwickshire on 131-6.
One run later Mellor (11) wafted at a wide one from Sheikh and was snaffled by Burgess behind the stumps, all seven wickets having been taken from the Farm Park End.
Rob Sayer was wheeling away through a miserly spell at the Car Park End, and had Grant Thornton (4) caught behind by Burgess for the keeper’s third victim of the innings. Burgess was giving a very impressive, tidy display behind the stumps. Amongst his many diving takes a one handed take to a wide from Sheikh preventing a certain five wides.
Burgess has a very controlled, perfectly controlled rolling action of his body when coming into contact with the turf on gathering the ball. His symmetry is excellent. He would not look out of place performing floor exercises at the Olympic Games.
Recordo Gordon (9) occupied the crease for 35 minutes before being expertly caught by Sam Evans, at short leg, off Sayer. Freckingham wrapped up the innings when he trapped Oliver Hannon-Dalby (17) in front. Warwickshire all out for 173 from 55 overs.
At 3.14pm. As Leicestershire openers Dearden and Evans were walking out to bat the rain came, and the Umpires took the players off the field. Tea was taken at 4.00pm, and with rain falling heavily play was abandoned for the day just after 5.00pm. Leicestershire 4 points, Warwickshire 1 point.
Just to make my day complete I rang my wife whilst we were off for rain, when she answered her phone I said ‘where are you?’ she said I have just gone out to Iceland. You couldn’t make it up! Well I could...
There was no play on day two because of rain. On day three we were greeted by a bright sunny morning, but the rain of the previous day had taken its toll. The Umpires had a look at 10.00am and said that they would carry out a further inspection at 11.00am.
The problem being that the bowlers run up at the Farm Park End were extremely wet, and surface water appeared when pressure was put on the grass. Hope you like my horticultural masterclass! The Umpires carried out an Inspection at 11.00am, and deemed that the ground was not fit for play, the game being abandoned as a draw. Leicestershire 9 points, Warwickshire 6 points.
A word of thanks to some of the members of Desborough Town CC. Thank you to Mick, Gary, Tony and Jason for all their hard work on the ground, both before the match, and during the three days for their tremendous effort in the hope of getting some further play in.
Also to Elaine and Karen for their herculean efforts in the kitchen over the three days, and also for getting lunch ready for 12 noon on day three at very short notice. I shall be looking out for both of you on MasterChef.
