Steel Steers Second XI to Victory
Wed 18 May 2022
By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire made the short journey to the Incora County Ground, Derby, for the third game of their SET20 campaign. Leicestershire were victorious by three runs, with the result of the game hinging on the last ball.
Arron Lilley skippered the Foxes and won the toss, choosing to bat. Scott Steel and Nick Welch got the innings off to a good start, posting a partnership of 54 for the first wicket. The pair bringing up their 50 partnership from 27 deliveries.
Steel proved the lynchpin of the innings, carrying his bat for an undefeated 71, racking up his 50 (5x4/2x6) from 33 balls. County were on 114-4 from 14.1 overs, when Steel found an ally in Sam Bates. The Groby Gloveman adding 46 for the 6th wicket with the opener.
Bates departed for (27) 20b. Leicestershire closed on 162-6 from their allotted 20 overs. Steel 71*(6x4/2x6) 53b. Matty McKiernan the pick of the Derbyshire bowlers with 3-41 from his four overs.
Derbyshire found themselves 34-3 after 3.3 overs. Roman Walker picking up two of the three wickets to fall, Scott ‘Golden Arm’ Steel capturing the other one.
Harry Finch and Alex Hughes then brought Derbyshire back into the game with a 50 partnership from 43 balls. The dangerous looking alliance was broken when Hughes (36) 28b was bowled by the first ball of Will Davis’ second spell. In his next over Davis picked up another wicket when McKiernan (7) 8b was caught in the deep by Alex Evans.
Finch (39) 37b, who proved to be Derbyshire’s top scorer, went caught behind by Bates off Lilley. Derbyshire 115-6 from 15.3 overs, requiring a further 48 runs from 4.3 overs. In the next over, Harry Caton (7) 6b went caught just over halfway back to the boundary by Davis off Steel. Derbyshire 126-7 from 16.5 overs, requiring 37 from 3.1 overs.
Archie Harrison was hunting down the target, but Derbyshire lost Mark Watt (3) 5b when he was expertly, and crucially, in the context of the match, caught low down in the deep by Welch off the bowling of Davis. Derbyshire now needing 12 to win off the last over, which was to be bowled by Gavin Griffiths.
Harrison hit the first ball for four, the next four deliveries went for singles, leaving Derbyshire needing four to win from the last ball. Harrison (24) 15b went caught at short third man by sub fielder Uttam Ramji, an Under 18 LYC prospect.
Leicestershire winning by three runs. Davis 3-30 from four overs, the leading wicket taker. Leicestershire 2 points, and as it was the Eurovision Song Contest last weekend, Derbyshire nil poi.
A full scorecard of the fixture can be found HERE
