Seconds enjoy double victory

Date: Tuesday 24 May 2011

Leicestershire Second XI won both of their opening twenty20 games against Essex at Grace Road. The new competition sees two games played in one day and the team won the first game by 27 runs and the second by 11 runs.

Leicestershire, who were captained by the returning Tom New, made 171-4 from their allocation in the first match.

Kadeer Ali top-scored a high-class unbeaten 80, Jacques du Toit added 31 while Will MacVicar was 25 not out and Josh Cobb scored a quickfire 18.

Cobb, Kadeer and James Sykes then shared seven wickets as Essex made 144-7 despite having a good start. Cobb took 3-28, Sykes 2-12 and Kadeer 2-26.

Leicestershire again batted first in the second game and scored 149-8. Ned Eckersley top-scored with 36 not out with du Toit (33), New (32), Kadeer (20) and MacVicar (18) also in the runs.

Essex gave themselves a platform in their innings by losing only three wickets but eventually closed on 139. Cobb took two wickets while Sykes claimed the other.

* Thanks to Ed Melia for providing the image.