Sykes' show leads Seconds to win
Thu 11 Jun 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
James Sykes took 5-49 as Leicestershire Second XI wrapped up an excellent Championship win at Worcestershire yesterday.
Leicestershire commenced the final day of the fixture in a commanding position, leading by 316 runs with nine second innings wickets in hand.
We were greeted at the Kidderminster ground by yet another cool and cloudy day, although the weather forecast predicted that the temperature may warm up somewhat as the day progresses.
Day three witnessed a reasonable cluster of spectators, who set up camp at the Railway End. It was good to see two stalwarts, our own ‘Sightscreen Shadows’, making their first venture of the season to an away Second XI match.
Aadil Ali 103* and Neil Pinner 23* resumed the innings for County with the score on 214-1. From the last ball of the third over of the morning Pinner (29) was run out by George Rhodes when attempting a quick single.
Hill joined Ali, and the pair added a breezy 45 before Hill (27) was out, trying to reverse sweep Rhodes. Ali’s tremendous innings came to an end when he was stumped by Joe Clarke off Rhodes for 126 (14x4/1x6) from 210 balls.
Tom Wells (2) went caught and bowled by Shaaiq Choudhry when quick runs were the order of the day. Zak Chappell (2) was run out by Alexei Kervezee, following which skipper Wells declared the innings on 278-6, leaving Worcestershire to get 381 to win in a minimum of 79 overs, at a rate of 4.82 per over.
Worcestershire had 58 minutes to bat before lunch and negotiated 14 overs safely, going in on 59-0 through Tom Kohler-Cadmore 24* and Brett D’Oliveira 30*. Worcestershire were progressing nicely towards their target, although Wells was juggling his bowlers around regularly.
The proceedings had moved on from day one whereby a film theme was evident with Hepburn around, and were now featuring theme’s of West End shows. Freckingham had been bowling to D’Oliveira conjuring up images of Hello Dolly, and Oliver.
The pair brought the 100 partnership up from 134 deliveries. Kohler-Cadmore went to his 50 (7x4,1x6) from 77 balls with the score on 101 from 23.4 overs. D’Oliveira soon afterwards notched up his 50 (8x4) from 81 balls.
The game took a twist however when Kohler-Cadmore (71) snicked one from Alex Wyatt that was taken expertly, diving to his right, by the ever alert Hill, leaving Worcestershire on 137-1 after 35.3 overs.
A couple of overs later D’Oliveira (60) was caught by Matt Pardoe at point, from a rocket like shot off Chappell. Worcestershire were now 139-2 from 38.1 overs. Rhodes and Joe Clarke, who had formed a strong alliance in the first innings took the score to 156 before Rhodes’ (11) holiday at the crease was ended when he was bowled by a full, express delivery from Liam Hurt who was charging in from the Railway End.
Joe Clarke 12* and Kervezee 7* took Worcestershire into tea on 172-3 from 46 overs. Resuming after the interval, Worcestershire needed 209 from a minimum of 33 overs. The game then swung dramatically in Leicestershire’s favour when Sykes was reintroduced to the attack.
With his first ball he got a ‘Bulls Eye’ (West End Show theme, think about it) when he beat Clarke (44) with a flighted delivery, and Hill whipped off the bails with the batsman out of his ground, Worcestershire 218-4.
Kervezee was still trying to chase down the target and Wells had five fielders on the boundary in an effort to keep him in check. Choudhry (20) was next to go attempting to hook a short ball from Hurt, Hill taking the catch above his head leaving Worcestershire 261-5 and County sniffing a victory.
Kervezee moved to his 50 (3x4) from 63 balls with the score on 272-5 from 62.4 overs. Later in the same over Alex Hepburn (2) had to taste gruel rather than take Breakfast at Tiffanys, when he was sent on his way by Sykes, another victim of the excellent glove work, and bail removal skills of Hill.
Worcestershire now 272-6, and the last hour about to start. Sykes was chugging away superbly at the Railway End, and soon had Frain (2) caught at short cover by Chappell, leaving Worcestershire in peril on 278-7 with 14.1 overs still remaining.
Kervezee eventually went attempting a maximum when he was caught by Pardoe on the long on boundary for 67 from 74 balls, Worcestershire 295-8 with 12.2 overs remaining. The end came swiftly with the final two wickets going down with the minimum of fuss.
Darrell Williams (4) was bowled by Sykes, and last man Wade (0) was bowled by Chappell, who had him squared up when bowling from the Masonic Lodge End. Worcestershire all out for 318, Leicestershire winning by 62 runs, and taking 24 points to Worcestershire’s 6 points.
Mama Mia, this really was a Thriller-Live, whereby the bowlers were Bending it Like Beckham. On this Sunny Afternoon County were feeling Beautiful, like Lion Kings, and Worcestershire were no doubt a little Les Miserables. I could not finish without a word for the Umpires, the Jersey Boys…and of course the Scorers, Wicked!!!!!
