Swindells Leads From Front In SEC Opener
Tue 16 Apr 2024
By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire commenced their 2024 Second Eleven Championship campaign against Worcestershire at Kibworth CC. Day 1 of the fixture was victim to the weather, so the game was reduced to three days.
Only 21 overs were possible during the day. Leicestershire closing on 61-2, with Harry Swindells leading from the front with an unbeaten 39.
Academy Members Jamie Dunk and Jay Madan made their debut for Leicestershire 2nd XI, along with trialists Alec McLoughlin and Dinuk de Silva.
Play was not able to start on time due to wet patches on parts of the outfield, and adjacent to the wicket. An early lunch was taken at 12.30pm. The Umpires carried out a further inspection and deemed conditions fit for play to start at 2.45pm, with a minimum of 54 overs available in the day.
Swindells skippered the Foxes, won the toss, and chose to bat. Sam Evans and Sol Budinger opening the innings.
Only 2.4 overs had been bowled when I received a packet of Werther’s Original, graciously delivered by Roger, a keen follower of The Foxes. Roger has certainly ‘hit the ground running’ at the start of the season! Mercifully, he did not tell me one of his jokes whilst making his delivery.
Back to the cricket, Budinger (2) went caught at second slip by Ethan Brookes off the bowling of Harry Darley. Swindells joined Evans and the pair had taken the score on to 45 when Evans (16) was caught behind by keeper Henry Cullen off the bowling of Yadvinder Singh.
Academy prospect, 18-year-old Jamie Dunk, fresh from representing Scotland ‘A’ at Lords last week, came to the crease for his 2nd XI debut. County into tea on 61-2 (21 overs) Swindells (39*) 64b, including two maximums, Dunk (0*) 15b.
As the players emerged from the pavilion after tea, the Kibworth groundstaff Darren & Steve, were busily putting the covers on, and laying sheeting down. In the distance, behind the pavilion, menacing looking clouds were approaching accompanied by rumbles of thunder, and flashes of lightning. After a period of heavy rain, play was called off for the day at 5.10pm.
Only some 85 minutes play were possible during the day, but special mention to the heroic efforts of groundstaff Darren and Steve who put in hours of work for such little reward in terms of playing time.
A full scorecard can be viewed HERE.
