2009 Season Review - August - Part Two

August was a busy and eventful month for Leicestershire CCC. Here is the second of a three-part take on the month.

There was no rest following the two Championship games and County were certainly feeling the loss of Iain O’Brien in New Zealand, who returned home ready for New Zealand duty later that month.

Indeed, an inexperienced Foxes line-up lost for the first time in the Pro40 the day after the Glamorgan game to a powerful Warwickshire Bears side.

The Bears were in ruthless mood and a young Leicestershire side simply could not get a foothold in the game.

An impressive unbeaten 39 from Chris Thompson did get the total up to a respectable one, but soon-to-be Ashes hero Jonathan Trott and the ever-brutal Neil Carter made light work of the chase.

However, everyone was lifted by a brilliant partnership between Jigar Naik and James Taylor against Derbyshire, which was an all-time Leicestershire record for the eighth wicket.

Naik made his first century for the club, while Taylor continued his fine form as the duo launched a famous rearguard to stave off defeat.

The hard yakka continued against an impressive Derbyshire outfit, who were well-led by Chris Rogers. The former Leicestershire man gave a masterclass in patience with a fine century after his seamers had dismissed County cheaply first time around.

They set the game up and on the final day, the team looked as though they were heading to defeat until a marvellous stand between Naik (109*) and Taylor (94) saved the day.

The pair combined for much of the final day with Naik making his first hundred with some fine strokes and Taylor batting in his usual determined manner.

Naik was quick to latch onto anything short, drove well and was also excellent in defence.

He blocked the ball well, left the ball well and punished anything loose. Derbyshire soon got frustrated and Taylor was also quick to take advantage when the attack – that was rotated at regular intervals – strayed off line.

It was an uplifting performance from the young duo and gave everyone a timely boost ahead of two Pro40 games. Unfortunately, both games were lost but the Foxes could so easily have had maximum points from the contests.

First was a trip to Lord’s, which looked a picture on a gorgeous afternoon. James Benning made his first appearance in a Leicestershire shirt, and a tidy bowling and fielding display helped the team restrict Middlesex to just over 200.

The team looked in control after Taylor’s half-century set up a chase, but when Boeta Dippenaar fell after sharing a potentially match-winning partnership, the wheels came off.

Owais Shah took four wickets to change the game – including the key wicket of Taylor - and then the Kent Spitfires registered a dramatic win under the floodlights the following Tuesday in a game the Foxes looked set to win.

Taylor again flourished in that match in front of the television cameras with a super 95, but Paul Dixey and Amjad Khan led the visitors to an unlikely win after the Foxes had seized control of the match with an excellent squeeze during the chase.

It had been nip and tuck throughout but the Foxes had got their noses in front at the critical time and looked set for victory. However, the Spitfires went home with the two points and it was a blow to the team, who had done everything but win the thrilling contest.

Leics responded in the right way though, winning their next game, which was a four-day match with Gloucestershire. It was a great contest, with the pendulum swinging a number of ways before the absorbing affair was sealed on the final afternoon.

Taylor’s unbeaten 83 in the first innings was a crucial contribution after fine knocks from Josh Cobb and Paul Nixon, who returned to the side as an opening batsman to good effect with a patient, well-constructed half-century.

AJ Harris then helped to roll over Gloucestershire with an outstanding display. The seamer took 5-26 and was well backed up by Wayne White, Claude Henderson and Naik as the team seized a huge 230 first-innings lead.

It should have been a platform to build heavily on, but Gloucs fought back in the second innings impressively. Hamish Marshall was the unlikely hero with a fine spell of medium-paced swing bowling, which yielded him 4-24 from 17 overs.

After slipping to 33-5, County eventually made 133 thanks to contributions from Benning, Taylor, Naik and Harris. It left a stiff chase 364 but there was plenty of time left in the game.

Two late wickets on the third day looked to have sealed the win as Benning conducted a fine piece of fielding to run out dangerman Chris Taylor and Henderson bowled Kadeer Ali from the very next ball but Gloucs got stuck in on the final day.

They had even turned the situation to their advantage by the start of the final session, but County held their nerve to take the final three wickets and put a dent in Gloucs’ promotion hopes – just as they did to Derbyshire.

Naik was particularly impressive and it was fitting that he bowled former County man Steve Kirby to clinch the victory. In all, Naik took 2-32 from 24 overs – sending down ten maidens in the process.

A fine week was capped off with an impressive victory against a strong Lancashire Lightning side. Details of that game will appear in the next edition of our season review.