County beaten by Pears

Date: Friday 07 May 2010

Alan Richardson took five wickets as Leicestershire's hopes of gaining a positive result in the LV=County Championship match against Worcestershire evaporated on the final day at Grace Road.

Richardson (5-44) initiated the downfall by removing Will Jefferson in the first over and also took the wicket of James Taylor within the opening half hour. That was part of an overall loss of four wickets in just 32 balls which put a huge dent in Leicestershire's hopes.

Jacques du Toit (52) and Tom New (42) helped to turn things around with a plucky 88-run partnership but when New was trapped leg before by the returning Richardson just after, the revival had been nipped in the bud.

The experienced seamer also took the wicket of du Toit later in the piece and Worcestershire won by a tally of 173 runs overall.

Leicestershire resumed needing a further 298 to win while Worcestershire required nine wickets to ensure success; although that turned out to be eight as Wayne White was not risked given he suffered a broken finger on the second day.

It was delicately poised and the early exchanges were always going to be pivotal. Had Leicestershire got through an hour without loss, the game would have been there to be won.

However, the match took a dramatic turn in the Pears' favour as the visitors made four critical blows.

They grasped the nettle by claiming both unbeaten overnight batsmen. Jefferson did not add to his overnight score of 60 and the partnership was ended on 85 when the opener edged Richardson behind to Ben Scott in the first over.

Paul Nixon (45) was always going to be the key man and he scored the first boundary of the day with a powerful pull through mid-wicket. The left-hander added a pleasant drive through cover but was also dismissed in the opening overs.

Impressive young seamer Richard Jones claimed his wicket for the second time in the game by nipping one off the seam and the batsman was adjudged leg before.

With Scott taking the catch off the pad it initially looked as though he had been given caught behind. With the ball rising into the keeper's gloves it looked a tight call on the batsman.

It was a huge wicket for the Pears in the context of the game. Nixon's application throughout the game was exemplary and his was the wicket the visitors were desperate to get their hands on.

With both men who settled last evening out it meant that two new men had to get themselves in. Unfortunately both departed before they could get their feet under the table.

Andrew McDonald edged to Moeen at third slip later that over and when Taylor got a nibble to a Richardson away swinger, the team were in a huge spot of bother with four wickets having fallen for sixteen runs.

Leicestershire badly needed to regroup quickly and launched a counter attack. New played a cracking pick-up stroke for six and du Toit also cut high over the cordon for a maximum as the home side utilised attack as the best form of defence.

It was certainly all-action stuff in the opening overs but that was suiting the visitors at this stage. Leicestershire needed a calm and assured period but Worcestershire were making life difficult for the batters.

du Toit tried to get his bat out of the way of one that reared sharply and was nearly gathered in the slips. Fortunately for County, the ball went to ground after a couple of juggles.

New then drove handsomely through extra as he looked to assert his presence at the crease and du Toit played a carbon copy stroke as the batsmen started to get on top.

The keeper drove off the backfoot as the team regained composure and went past 150 in the process. du Toit then pulled off the back foot to the boundary and Richardson took a breather after a lengthy opening burst.

Jack Shantry was introduced from the Bennett End with Jones continuing from the Pavilion End. du Toit stroked two more boundaries as the partnership passed 50.

New glanced for four and then picked up a delivery that bounced just short of the ropes. The duo were going nicely, although when du Toit misjudged a single there could have been real trouble. Richardson somehow missed the stumps from close range and the wake-up call was heeded.

The batsman went on to pull and cut with authority as the score went past 200. By lunch, the score had progressed to 211-5 with du Toit on 48 and New 42.

The team needed a further 194 runs to win at that stage so a period of consolidation had been just what Leicestershire needed. However, any hopes of winning or saving the game disappeared after the break due to another cluster of wickets.

A swift double fall early in the afternoon session which proved a decisive setback. New was given out leg before with Richardson ducking one in from around the wicket and Claude Henderson was then bowled by Gareth Andrew.

du Toit moved to fifty from 78 balls, which included eight fours and a six. Nathan Buck joined the batsman at the wicket. du Toit was the next man to fall as he lofted a drive to Vikram Solanki at mid off to give Richardson his fifth wicket.

Matthew Hoggard was next in and he and Buck put up some spirited resistance. However, Shantry ended the game when he bowled the captain as White sensibly did not come out to bat.

It was a disappointing setback for the team but credit to Worcestershire, who deserved their victory after a good four-day performance. Leicestershire will be looking to bounce back in the game against Gloucestershire at Bristol. Play gets underway on Monday at 11am.