Nixon shines for Seconds

Date: Monday 24 August 2009

SET: Worcs 2nds 281-7 (Masters 3-52) lost to Leics 2nds 281-4 (Nixon 104*, Thompson 64, Flowers 57) by six wickets.

SEC: Worcs 2nds 205 (Masters 5-59) and 236-3 beat Leics 2nds 221 (Cobb 56, du Toit 44) and 215 (Nixon 103, du Toit 57) by seven wickets.

Two centuries from Paul Nixon were part of mixed results in recent Second XI fixtures at Worcestershire.

Nixon made an unbeaten 104 to guide the team to a win in the Trophy fixture at New Road, but his 103 could not prevent a Championship defeat by seven wickets at the same venue.

Dan Masters also shone in both matches. In the SET, the paceman took 3-52 as Worcs made 281-7.

Openers Chris Thompson (64) and Tom Flowers (57) then ensured a solid start in sharing 90, before Thompson and Nixon then got the team towards the target.

Nixon was still unbeaten at the close and played an important role in the three-day game that followed.

Josh Cobb (56) and Jacques du Toit (44) top-scored in the first innings of 221, while Masters claimed 5-59 as Worcs replied with 204. Kieran Garside chipped in with 3-43 and Gary Montgomery took the other two wickets to fall for 45 off 23 overs.

Nixon then dominated the second knock, making 103 out of 215. du Toit also shone again with 57.

However, the target of 233 was made light of by the home batsmen, who achieved their total for the loss of just three wickets.

The Seconds round off their campaign with a game against Scotland at Market Harborough CC. The action gets underway on Tuesday.