Trialists hit 50s for Seconds
Tue 21 Apr 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire Second XI fought extremely hard on the second day of the Friendly against Nottinghamshire with trialists Matt Pardoe and Jordan Rollings making half-centuries and other batsmen making vital contributions down the order.
We arrived at the delightful ground of Kibworth CC, to find that the sun was up bright and early, and there was every indication that the ’big round yellow fella’ in the sky would be putting a full shift in today, and not slinking off early.
Amongst the good number of spectators at the ground were a number of the ‘top brass’ from Grace Road, both from the Coaching and Management side. Mick Newell of Nottinghamshire was also in attendance as was the former Surrey and England bowler, Geoff Arnold, carrying out ECB ‘surveillance’ duties.
County resumed on their overnight 31-3 with Pardoe and Lewis Hill at the crease. They took the score along to 61 before Hill (17) was adjudged lbw to seamer Simon Webster.
Pardoe was settling in nicely on his first knock for Leicestershire 2s. The left-hander was finding the ropes regularly, both along the deck and over the top off the seamers and spinner Carter, who he smacked for three fours in the 27th over to bring up his half century (8x4) from 59 balls with the score on 81-4.
Pardoe (53) departed caught at third slip, from the first ball of Luke Wood’s spell from the Pavilion End. There was then a Scottish Alliance (with not an SNP prospective candidate in sight) between Matt Cross and Rob Taylor. Cross, examined closely by seamers Webster, Wood and Hutton and also spinner Carter, passed with flying colours.
Taylor (11) meanwhile went caught at long-on trying to deposit spinner Carter onto the adjoining cricket field. Cross finally went for a gritty and workmanlike 41, expertly caught by Sam Johnson low down at deep mid-wicket, off Wood.
James Sykes and Zak Chappell took County into lunch on 144-7, trailing by 179 runs. After lunch the tail wagged in remarkable fashion. Sykes and Chappell took the score to 202 before Chappell (36) was caught at first slip off Webster, the pair having added 68 for the 8th wicket. Sykes (35) departed nine runs later with the score on 211-9.
Then followed a feast of entertainment for the spectators, a last wicket stand, don’t you just love ‘em! The central characters of this spectacular cameo being Rollings and Alex Wyatt. Wyatt, at a mere 6’ 7’’, was dwarfed by the 6’ 10’’ man mountain that is Rollings. These pair together must be a gents outfitters nightmare, their inside leg measurements being taken in yards not inches.
Rollings, was certainly rockin’, and smashed his way to an undefeated 57, his 50 (6x4/2x6) from 34 balls. Wyatt (the Oakham Bradman) gave a nod of appreciative respect and approval when his partner launched the bowling to all parts.
Wyatt played his role as well making an unbeaten 20 from 29 balls. Notts took the new ball after 80 overs with the score on 271 but after these Land of the Giants understudies had added a further 14 from three overs of the new cherry, skipper Matthew Boyce declared so as to have a few overs at Notts before tea. County ended on 285-9 dec, the final pair having shared an unbroken 74.
Notts survived until tea, going in on 6-0. After tea Sykes picked up a couple of wickets, bowling from ‘the field’ end. Opener Dal (22) was caught at cover by Pardoe, then Johnson (8) was taken down the leg side by keeper Hill. Greg Smith was proving hard to dismiss, as in the first innings. He eventually went for 45, bowled by Dan Redfern, who had replaced Sykes.
Chappell came on for the final three overs from the Pavilion End, and with his first ball rearranged Hutton’s (30) woodwork. Adam Tillcock 2 and Jamie New 6 were the not out batsman at the close, Notts finishing on 115-4, a lead of 153.
