Taylor claims six of the best
Wed 12 Aug 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Rob Taylor took 6-65 as Leicestershire's bowlers stuck to their task on the first day of the Second XI Championship game against Nottinghamshire.
A beautiful summer’s day greeted us upon our arrival at Notts Sports Ground, the nearby Nottingham Forest FC ground still licking its wounds in the mid-morning sunshine following the demolition job done on them last night by Walsall in the first round of the League Cup.
The boundary was today populated by just a sprinkling of spectators at the start of play, including of course the ‘Dynamic Duo’, you don’t need me to tell you who they are! If there is a cricket match going on somewhere involving any branch of Leicestershire CCC, rest assured this pair will find it.
However, I must mentioned Chris who today turned up dressed in the epitome of sartorial elegance, in that the top half of his svelt-like figure was festooned by a Blue Army T Shirt, circa May 2015 (free issue for Sunderland away), great effort Chris!
Also, today it was good to see Tim Murray at the game. He gave his apologies for his non attendance yesterday as his brown cap had gone in for a 5,000 mile service.
There were five changes to the Leicestershire side from the Trophy game as Zak Chappell, Joe Kendall, Alex Kent, Dan Hampton and Will Hale were replaced by Lewis Hill, Jigar Naik, Atif Sheikh, Connor Harvey and Alex Thomson.
Naik skippered County, lost the toss, and Nottinghamshire chose to bat. Greg Smith opened the innings with Jake Libby. The pair looked comfortable against the new ball attack of Sheikh and Harvey.
After 11 overs Taylor replaced Sheikh at the Ratcliffe Road End and Wayne White replaced Harvey at the River End. The score had advanced to 72 from 22.4 overs when Smith (35) was trapped lbw to become the first of six victims for Taylor in the day.
Libby (45*) and Sam Wood (12*) took Nottinghamshire into the interval in a healthy position on 103-1 from 34 overs.
Taylor swiftly removed Libby (49) lbw with the fourth ball after lunch. The Devonian missed out on a half century and remained on a Lottery Ticket. The measured, and precise presentation and delivery of the ‘digit of doom’ by Umpire Billy Taylor makes for pleasant viewing side on.
Soon afterwards Taylor picked up his third wicket when he had Sam Wood (24) caught low down at second slip by Michael Burgess, Notts now 136-3 from 42.2 overs. The afternoon session was played out beneath a beating sun.
Billy Root was taking the attack to Leicestershire but when he had made 24 he attempted a reverse sweep against Naik and became the third lbw victim of the innings. Dan Christian (34) was next to go caught behind by Hill, diving to his right, off Tom Wells.
Will Gidman (32*) and Adam Tillcock (13*) took Notts into tea on 247-5 from 72 overs. After tea, Sheikh bowled a rapid spell with no success. Gidman moved to his 50 from 84 balls (5x4), soon to be followed by Tillcock, whose came from 71 balls (8x4/1x6). A maximum off Harvey brought up his 50.
Gidman and Tillcock had added 109 and then wickets began to fall rapidly, just after County took the new ball after 83.5 overs. Taylor picked up the wickets of the set batsmen in one over having both Tillcock (54) and Gidman (71) caught reasonably close in by Harvey.
Luke Wood (8) then dragged one on from Taylor, and when Tom Moores (13) was caught at first slip by Naik off Harvey, Notts declared their innings on 364-9 after 90.4 overs. Luke Fletcher was unbeaten on 14, Taylor finishing with 6-65 from 19 overs.
Leicestershire had 11 overs to bat before the close of play. They got off to the worst possible start when Eben Kurtz (0) was lbw to the third ball of the innings to Luke Fletcher.
Hill and Dan Redfern applied themselves well and were in sight of the close when Hill (11) was trapped in front by Luke Wood. At the close of play County were 37-2, Redfern (26*), and nightwatchman Thomson (0*).
