Wood and Budinger Lead Game-Changing Fightback For Seconds

By Pete Johnson

Leicestershire produced a game-changing performance on day two of the SEC match v Kent at Polo Farm, Canterbury. After Kent had held the initiative on Day 1, the Foxes bounced back admirably, taking eight Kent wickets for a further 107 runs, and are now in the driving seat going into day three. Leicestershire closing on 86-0, holding a lead of 72 runs with all second innings wickets in hand.

Heavy rain started to fall as we were on our way to the ground, the downpour lasting for some 90 minutes. The Umpires made several Inspections whilst the groundstaff were working hard on the sodden areas, especially around the bowlers run ups.

Lunch was taken at 1.00pm, and following an inspection at 1.40pm, the Umpires stated that play would start at 2.30pm, with a minimum of 59 overs available in the day.

Kent resumed from their overnight 107-2, Harry Finch 7*, Ekansh Singh 4*. Chris Sanders delivered the first ball of the day, which went for a boundary. It took some six minutes to find the ball, amongst a variety of foliage, shrubbery, and the odd weed or two. A pity the players, and spectators looking for it were not golfers, as they would have found it immediately.

County struck in the second over of the morning when Singh (7) 14b was trapped in front by Roman Walker. Four overs later we witnessed a run out thanks to an excellent piece of fielding by Sam Wood. Finch pushed a delivery from Walker into the leg side, Wood swooped on the ball in the mid wicket area, and threw down the stumps, at the bowlers end, with arrow like precision. Hamadullah Qadri being sent back by Finch, but failing to make his ground. Kent 128-4 from 36.4 overs.

Just afterwards, ex Fox and Kent-based Darren Stevens approached scorers HQ asking for a brief resume of the proceedings of yesterday, and today. Scott Steel was introduced into the attack, and took a wicket with the first delivery of his spell, as he also did on day one. Jadon Denly struck the ball to mid-wicket where Uday Modhwadia eagerly gobbled up the catch.

Five overs later, Gareth Severin pulled a delivery from Uttan Ramji to the deep mid wicket area where Zen Malik took a splendid catch taking the ball inches from the ground. Kent 154-6 from 45.4 overs. Finch (48*) 92b and Max Wood (118) 43b took the Hop County safely into tea on 185-6 from 59 overs.

Finch went to his 50 (4x4) 98b from the last ball of the first over after tea. Shortly afterwards, Finch and Wood posted a 50 partnership (104b), the score on 204-6. Kent then lost four wickets for eight runs with Sam Wood being involved in all four dismissals.

His namesake Max Wood, steered a delivery from Wood towards the mid wicket area, Tristan Kennedy fielded the ball fired it into the keeper, one run had been completed, and both batters were at the strikers end due to a communication error, the ball was relayed to Wood at the bowler’s end who disturbed the bails with neither batters within 20 yards of him. Wood (15) 63b run out by Wood. Wood (would) you believe it!

Wood then finished off the Kent innings taking 3 wickets in 4 balls. With the 5th delivery of the 3rd over of his spell he pinned Matt Quinn (0) 7b in front. Next ball, Jas Singh was caught by keeper Vikai Kelley down the leg side. Wood was on a hat-trick with the first ball of his next over, but Arafat Bhuiyan played a solid defensive shot to the delivery.

However, next ball Wood disturbed Arafat’s woodwork, and in doing so returned figures of 3-31 from 13.2 overs. Football not the only sport to have a Big Sam amongst its ranks! Kent 214 all out, leading by 14 runs. Steel weighing in with 3-23 from 10 overs. Walker 1-17 from 8, and Ramji 1-51 from 19 overs. Finch (73*) 117b, going in at three, batting impressively for Kent, Leicestershire unable to knock him off his perch.

There were 20 overs remaining in the day when Leicestershire commenced their reply. Sam Evans and Sol Budinger rose to the challenge admirably, and backed up the good work the bowlers had done by putting County in control of the game.

Evans and Budinger posted a 50 partnership after 12.1 overs, Evans contributing 8 runs whilst the Budinger Express weighed in with 41 of them. Budinger went to his 50 (4x4/1x6) 49b, the score on 63-0 from 14.1 overs. Evans (17*) 59b and Budinger (66*) 62b saw Leicestershire safely into stumps on 86-0 from 20 overs, a lead of 72 runs.

When Evans and Budinger are at the crease it very much reminds me of the tortoise and the hare. I may start referring to Evans as Tommy (The Tortoise) and Budinger as Harold (The Hare). A solid foundation built by Tommy and Harold. I would hastily add that the observation is my own, and does not reflect the views of LCCC in any way whatsoever! Joking apart, their styles very much complement each other.

Leicestershire holding a lead of 72 runs going into day three, and in a strong position to dictate the direction of the game.

A full scorecard can be viewed HERE.