Trevaskis Takes Five On Day One Of Second XI Opener

Liam Trevaskis claimed a five-wicket haul and Academy graduate Alex Green picked up three for 60 as Leicestershire’s Second XI began their 2025 campaign with a solid bowling display at Uptonsteel County Ground.

The Foxes dismissed Worcestershire for 311 - Rob Jones notching a century for the visitors “ before openers Sheridon Gumbs (39) Jay Madan (36*) helped Leicestershire reach 79/2 at the close.

Worcestershire skipper Ed Pollock won the toss and elected to bowl first in the opening Second XI friendly of the year. Leicestershire naming a handful of First Team stars in their side, with Harry Swindells captaining and Josh Hull making his much-anticipated return from injury.

Pollock got his side off to a rapid start, scoring 29 runs from his first 25 balls before a moment of magic from trialist George Maddy, son of Leicestershire legend Darren, removed his opening partner, Rehaan Edavalath.

Much more circumspect, and starved of the strike, the 21-year-old was spectacularly caught down the leg side by Maddy, diving at full stretch to his left to pouch the one-handed stunner. Roman Walker with the wicket. Worcestershire 38/1 after five.

Pollock continued to accelerate before Trevaskis halted him in his tracks. The left-hander slog sweeping straight to Gumbs at deep mid-wicket for a-run-a-ball 43.

Three overs later, Green “ who was featuring alongside older brother Nick for the first time - took the third wicket. Henry Cullen miscuing a pull straight to Madan at deep mid-wicket, leaving Worcestershire 72/3.

Jones and Ismail Mohammed rebuilt well for the visitors, accruing a fifty partnership just after play had resumed post-lunch, before Green returned to strike twice in as many overs.

Making just his second appearance for the Second XI, he induced Mohammed’s (33) outside edge before Seth Essenhigh (4) skewed the 6ft 7” seamer to Ali Farooq at cover point.

Jones moved to a patient (103b) fifty in the afternoon as he continued to anchor the innings from number three, but wickets fell consistently around him.

Three in a row fell to Trevaskis’ left-arm spin, as Jack Home (9) and Ben Gibbon (23) were both pinned in front, while fellow spinner Fateh Singh (16) was caught at extra cover by Walker off a leading edge.

A quickfire 44 from Tom Hinley added late impetus to the Worcestershire innings, but he too fell leg-before to left-arm spin. Academy spinner Ali Farooq striking at a crucial juncture after a 53-run stand with Jones, who had added just seven in that alliance.

But Jones wasn’t to be denied his hundred, taking a couple of Farooq to reach his ton from 175 balls (14x4). Trevaskis wrapped up the innings in the next over to complete his five-fer, clean bowling Tom Cox for 11. Worcestershire all out for 311 after 70.5 overs. Trevaskis 25.5-3-83-5.

Gumbs, who played four list A games for Surrey, and Madan were watchful in the early exchanges of Leicestershire’s reply, scoring 19 from the opening 11 overs. The pair added 72 together before Gumbs edged left-arm spinner Hinley to Pollock at slip.

Walker came in as nightwatchman but was bowled by Home in the next over for a single. Madan, impressive throughout the 23 overs, reaching 36 not out at stumps. Swindells 0* at the other end with Leicestershire 79/2.