Welch and Modhwadia Star for Seconds on Day Two

By Pete Johnson

On day two of the SEC between Durham and Leicestershire at South Northumberland CC, Durham were dismissed for 336 in their first Innings. Uday Modhwadia the leading wicket taker with 4-55, a good day for Uday.

In reply, Leicestershire closed on 185-7, trailing by 151 runs, Nick Welch unbeaten on 52. Day two comprised 104 overs as opposed to the regulation 96 overs, making up for some of the time lost on day one.

Durham resumed from their overnight 90-2, Harry Crawshaw 53*, Graham Clark 14*. After 16 overs of the morning’s play, Durham had been reduced to 134-5. Clark (23) 51b went caught down the leg side by ‘keeper Sam Bates off Alex Evans. Evans having claim to the first wicket for the Foxes 2nd XI since new Prime Minister Liz Truss took office.

James Cooke (14) 20b, was then caught by Vikai Kelley, in the mid-wicket area, from Uday Modhwadia’s second delivery of the morning. Crawshaw (70) 135b caught at cover by Freddie Fallows off Sam Wood.

There was a further dismissal during first hour’s play, Thomas Tuchel, the Chelsea Manager, being shown the door! Events nearer to home at the KP kept flicking through my mind, no doubt as a result of Evans having bowled a number of overs, and the Durham scorer having the surname Maddison!

Oli Sutton and Haydon Mustard then built a substantial partnership for Durham, who went into lunch on 199-5 from 65 overs. Sutton 34*, Mustard 31*.

During the morning’s play, I was visited by John Wakefield the PA announcer at the Emirates Riverside, who has roots in Leicestershire, and is a staunch LCFC supporter. John very kindly came along to loan me three books about City, that would you believe I had not read!

In the 5th over after lunch, Sutton went to his 50 (8x4/1x6) 87b. Young left-hander Sutton being far from all at sea! Sutton and Mustard then brought up their 100 partnership from 151 balls, the score on 236-5 from 71.5 overs.

Mustard went to his 50 (9x4) 80b the score on 265-5 from 77.3 overs. Mustard batting with relish, as his name suggests! Sutton and Mustard had added 147 runs for the 6th wicket when Sutton (83) 133b was caught behind by Bates off Evans. Durham 281-6 from 82.5 overs. The new ball having been taken a couple of overs earlier.

Durham’s last four wickets added a further 55 runs. In the process, Mustard (62) 98b was another wicket to fall, caught Bates bowled Evans. Durham 284-7 from 84.1 overs.

The final three Durham wickets fell in the space of 13 deliveries. Luke Robinson (19) 32b was caught by Joe Johnson at cover off Modhwadia. Alfie Taylor-Clarke (2) 5b went lbw to Nat Bowley, and Seb Allinson (30) 44b was caught at mid wicket by ‘JJ’ Fielding off Modhwadia. Durham 336 all out from 97.1 overs. Wicket takers for Leicestershire: Modhwadia 4-55 from 19.1 overs, Evans 3-76 from 22 overs, Wood 2-57 from 12 overs, and Bowley 1-56 from 20 overs.

Tea was taken, and Leicestershire resumed their reply at 3.49pm with a minimum of 37 overs remaining in the day. Leicestershire were reduced to 99-6 after 22 overs, including Bates (21) 19b, whose first five scoring shots were all boundaries, and Joe Johnson (11) 17b creaming the first ball he received for the 2’s through the covers for a boundary. Other dismissals were, Fielding (12) 20b, Wood (11) 23b, Kelley (7) 14b, and Aryan Patel (0) 7b.

A partnership of 46 was then posted by Nick Welch and Nat Bowley for the 7th wicket from 34 balls. The partnership broken when the score was on 145. The lean, mean, run machine, of recent times, Bowley (30) 22b bowled by Sutton. Leicestershire 145-7 from 27.4 overs.

Welch was joined by Freddie Fallows (Welch and Fallows, sounds like a sequel to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and the pair safely saw County through to stumps.

Welch, the zealous Zimbabwean zooming to his 50 (5x4/2x6) 69b in the penultimate over of the day. He received good support at the end of the day from ‘Fearless’ Freddie Fallows who made a very solid contribution, facing 29 deliveries. Durham having employed a pace attack throughout the innings so far. Leicestershire closing on 185-7 from 37 overs, trailing by 151 runs. Welch 52* Fallows 17*. Durham 3 points, Leicestershire 3 points.

A remarkable observation that I have made is that out of the 22 players who will visit the crease in this game 13 of them are left handers. 6 representing Durham, and 7 representing Leicestershire. Not much gets past me........

A full scorecard can be viewed HERE