2009 Season Review - July

Date: Thursday 31 December 2009

Our 2009 season review continues with a look at July.

After a promising performance at Derbyshire, Leicestershire did not have to wait long for their first Championship victory of the season.

There was a short break at the beginning of July, but the win came in the very next game against Middlesex, where the bowlers dominated to ensure the team triumphed.

Iain O’Brien led the way, taking a consecutive Championship six-for to ensure the visitors were rolled over for 159 in their first dig.

Only Dawid Malan (67*) showed much resistance, with O’Brien previously dismissing dangerman Owais Shah with a great ball that nipped back and bowled the batsman, who offered no stroke.

Harry Gurney also chipped in with a two-for, while AJ Harris and Jim Allenby took one apiece.

Leicestershire then needed a solid innings but it never materialised. County were reduced to 53-5, but Josh Cobb – who likes batting against Middlesex – stood firm after opening the innings and anchored it.

By the time he was the ninth batsman out for an excellent 95 – he richly deserved a second first-class ton against Middlesex – County had 195 on the board. The recovery was aided by good partnerships with Tom New (42) and O’Brien (20).

Harris and Gurney then did a sterling job, putting on a crucial 49 for the last wicket. It more than doubled the lead, and on a wicket that offered some help throughout, proved to be very important.

Indeed, skipper Boeta Dippenaar felt that stand changed the course of the game. It gave County a feel-good factor and momentum and Harris then continued his good work to take 4-24 as Middlesex capitulated to 91 all out.

It could have been so different, particularly when County were still 21 behind their opponents with just three first-innings wickets in hand at one stage.

However, after some good late-order partnerships and excellent bowling from Harris, O’Brien (3-29), Allenby (2-1) and Gurney (1-30) - who, like Harris and O’Brien, made valuable contributions throughout the game – the team needed just seven runs to win.

Cobb and Matthew Boyce were lost in that chase, but Dippenaar hit the winning runs to ensure an eight-wicket, eighteen-point win by lunchtime on the third day.

Rain then ensured the Pro40 opener at Northants ended in a no result, with Cobb (43) and Allenby (43) top-scoring in the Foxes’ dig. Gurney took a wicket in reply but the chase had barely started when rain came.

Northants were in a good position as they had got above the required run-rate and Duckworth-Lewis target had enough overs been bowled, but they hadn’t so both teams took a point apiece from the contest.

The elements also spoilt the Championship fixture against Essex, but there was a brilliant innings from James Taylor in the match.

County were struggling on 173-9 after the visitors made 427-6 declared, but Taylor dominated a 65-run final wicket stand with Gurney before being last man out for 88.

It was a great knock, based around finding boundaries early in the over, manipulating the strike when possible and also placing trust in his partner.

He was only in the forties when Gurney came to the wicket, so it was a fine effort. He was disappointed not to make a century, which showed the determined, positive mindset the young batter has.

However, he did not have to wait long for his next three-figure score. The next four-day game that started on the last day of the month was against Surrey at The Oval.

By the end of the first day, the teenager was unbeaten on 53 overnight. By tea the next day, something extremely special occurred.

Running totals:

Championship: P8 W1 D6 L1

FPT: P8 W2 L4 A2

T20: P10 W5 L5

Pro40: P1 W0 L0 A1

Player of the month: Josh Cobb