Wright Takes Three On Injury Comeback At Kibworth

By Pete Johnson

Chris Wright picked up 3/19 on his comeback from injury as Leicestershire’s Second XI produced an outstanding performance on day one of their friendly against Northamptonshire at Kibworth CC.

The 39-year-old, alongside Nick Green’s 4/53, helped dismiss the visitors for 115 in just 31.3 overs, before Leicestershire closed on 204/5, leading by 89 runs. Opener Sheridon Gumbs making an eye-catching 93*, ably supported by Harry Swindells’ 55.

Harry Swindells skippered the Foxes, his opposite number Krish Patel called correctly, and chose to bat. After just nine overs, Northamptonshire had been reduced to 34/5. Wright picking up three wickets, and fellow opening bowler Green taking two wickets.

Wright trapped both George Bartlett (0) and Stuart van der Merwe (5) leg-before, while he had Freddie Heldreich caught and bowled in between those dismissals for nine.

Green, the older brother of Academy graduate Alex, claimed the first and third of a blitzing spell alongside Wright, getting Aum Raykar (4) caught by Gumbs at first slip and clean bowling skipper Patel for 14.

In Green’s second over he displayed a skill that should get him an audition for Britain’s Got Talent, and possibly a golden buzzer. When Patel struck successive deliveries from Green to the boundary, having been dropped in the slip cordon the ball before, he displayed the intriguing ability to exhale smoke from his ears!

Wickets fell at regular intervals, and lunch was delayed as Northamptonshire were nine down at the scheduled interval of 1:00pm. Northamptonshire’s 10th wicket stand of 24, the highest partnership of their innings, was ended with the score on 115 as Dom Leech (42) slog swept Liam Trevaskis to Usman Minhas at long on.

Leicestershire’s bowlers all putting in good performances. Green 4/53 from 11 overs. Wright 3/19 from 6 overs, Liam Tew 2/18 from 7 overs, and Trevaskis 1/1 from 2.3 overs.

Left-handed opener Gumbs and Swindells posted a 50 partnership for the second wicket, following the early loss of Jay Madan (1) to veteran seamer, Ben Sanderson.

Six overs later, Swindells went to his 50 (10x4) 64b when he guided seamer Louis Reeder down to the fine leg boundary for four. Swindells (55) 79b departed before the tea interval, having added 85 runs with Gumbs. County into tea on 100/2 from 32 overs.

Three wickets fell in the first 14 overs after the restart, as Trevaskis (7), Jamie Dunk (6) and Sam Wood (0) all fell, but Gumbs was standing firm, and playing a solid chanceless innings.

The former Surrey man went to his 50 (4x4) 150b, when he took a single off seamer Josh Croom. He and 18-year-old Academy scholar Usman Minhas then repelled the Northamptonshire attack in the final 75 minutes of the day’s play, posting a 50 partnership for the sixth wicket.

Leicestershire closed on 204/5 from 64 overs, Gumbs 93* (182b), Minhas 26* (54b), leading by 89 runs with five second innings wickets in hand.