Young guns fire Seconds to super win
Thu 23 Apr 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Result: Leicestershire 285-9 dec and 295-3 beat Nottinghamshire 323 and 254-7 dec by seven wickets.
Aadil Ali and Lewis Hill batted brilliantly to ensure Leicestershire Second XI won their first match of the season, a three-day friendly against Nottinghamshire at Kibworth CC.
Hill joined Ali with 159 needed from a minimum of 23.2 overs and the young pair batted absolutely magnificently to see County cruise home by seven wickets with 4.3 overs remaining.
They added an unbeaten blistering 161 from 18.5 overs, Ali making 94* (8x4/6x6) from just 69 balls and Hill 70* (8x4/1x6) from 60 deliveries.
Earlier in the day, we arrived at Kibworth on a sunny but very chilly morning, and again the forecast was for a fine day.
A cluster of spectators were huddled around the boundaries edge, some donning clothes as if they were about to embark on a polar expedition, and others gritting their teeth and wearing shorts.
It reminded me somewhat of holiday makers sitting on an east coast beach, who were determined to enjoy the day whatever the temperature. All that was missing was the odd windbreak or two.
Notts commenced the final day on 115-4. Alex Wyatt and Jordan Rollings opened the attack for County and with the naked eye it appeared that neither of them had passed the seven foot mark, in height, overnight.
After 12 overs of the day James Sykes replaced Rollings at the Field End. In the next over County picked up a wicket when Wyatt trapped Jamie New (21) lbw. We then had Wyatt bowling to Marshall, there must be a cowboy story in there somewhere! (Readers of a certain age will recall Wyatt Earp a Marshall in the Wild West).
Soon afterwards Dan Redfern replaced Wyatt at the Pavilion End then Aadil Ali replaced Sykes at the Field End. It transpired that Ali was to bowl a solitary over so as Redfern and Sykes could change ends. With the 5th ball of his solitary over Ali had Connor Marshall (3) lbw.
This however would not be Ali’s only contribution to the day’s play. Sykes and Redfern continued to twirl away before Rob Taylor replaced Sykes, Adam Tillcock having gone to his second half century of the match (3x4) from 94 balls. Notts went into Lunch on 217-6 from 68 overs with Tillcock 56* and Luke Wood 24*.
Notts had a quick dart for 4 overs after lunch, losing Wood (24) caught at slip by Matt Cross from the second ball after lunch, delivered by Taylor. Notts declared their innings on 254-7 with Tillcock 70* and Paul Franks 23*. Mention must be made of Wyatt who had bowled 32 overs in the match for a miserly 70 runs, picking up 5 wickets.
County were set 293 to win in a minimum of 58 overs and Redfern and Matt Boyce opened the innings. The duo laid a foundation taking the score to 56 before Redfern (31) was stumped by New when coming down the wicket to Tillcock. The pair had seen off the new ball threat of Brett Hutton and Wood, with the first wicket going down after 12.1 overs.
Meanwhile another spinner Matt Carter, wheeling away from the Field End, was bowling a considerable number of dot balls, intermingled with occasional boundaries. Boyce and Matt Cross had taken the score to 111 from 28.5 overs when Cross (26) was caught by behind by Jamie New off Hutton.
Ali joined Boyce, who moved to his half century (6x4/1x6) from 77 balls with the score on 112-2 from 29.2 overs. Soon afterwards, with the score on 134 from 34.4 overs, Boyce (56) had a go at a short ball from Hutton that flew to keeper New, who safely gloved the catch.
Then came the stand of the match at the critical moment. Ali’s driving, along the floor and over the top, had the power of a Formula 1 car. He powered six colossal maximums in an eight over blitz and Hill’s cutting was more brutal than a Chancellor on Budget Day.
Personally I was so pleased for these two young prospects, as during my time with the Second XI they have always given their all for the team, sometimes at personal sacrifice. It was wonderful to see them have their day in the limelight.
Ali has batted in every position from one to eight with the 2s and always adapts to the situation. It is also good to see Hill blossom into an accomplished wicketkeeper/batsman. They both must wish they could ‘bottle’ this innings and carry it around with them.
Milestones along the way of this outstanding partnership:
Ali 50 (6x4/1x6) 46 balls score 229-3 from 46.3 overs.
Hill 50 (7x4/1x6) 43 balls score 233-3 from 46.5 overs.
100 partnership (11x4/2x6) 75 balls score 234-3 from 47 overs
150 partnership (13x4/6x6) 106 balls score 285-3 from 52.1 overs.
Reflecting on the game County had four Matts in the team (Boyce, Cross, Pardoe and Wareing), just about the right format for victory - with that I am off for a lie down in a darkened room shortly.
I have received a message that a number of club cricketers have asked if we could include names of the Umpires who are standing in our Second XI matches. Please note details can be found on the attached Scorecard.
Finally, sincere thanks to all at Kibworth CC who have made our three days there so welcoming. Many thanks to Alison and Jan who looked after the catering side of things, to Steve, ably assisted by ‘Abbo’ for all his work preparing and maintaining the wicket and to another Steve for keeping the scorers regularly supplied with teas and coffees.
The next Second XI game is a Trophy match against Yorkshire at Leicester Ivanhoe CC on Monday, April 27th.
