Seconds/Academy/under 17s update

Date: Thursday 22 July 2010

Leicestershire Seconds were frustrated by the weather last week in their friendly against Derbyshire at Sileby Town CC.

Greg Smith top-scored with 56 as Leics made 284-7 declared, but the overall highest tally came courtesy of a staggering 70 extras conceded by the visitors in 66.4 overs.

Sileby all-rounder Liam Kinch added an unbeaten 42 on his home ground, while Matthew Boyce, Wayne White and Joel Pope all chipped in with scores in the twenties.

Derbyshire were only able to get up to 70-4 in 22.4 overs in their reply, with James Benning taking 2-5 and Harry Gurney and Dan Masters also taking a wicket apiece.

* In the Academy game at Finedon, Kinch was again in good form as the team won on first innings.

The off-spinner made 105 not out as the team made 293-9. Charles Wootton (66) and Tom Wells (60) also made good contributions to that score.

In Northants’ innings, spinners Jamie Sykes and Ben Collins impressed as the home side totalled 232.

Slow left armer Sykes took 3-43 from 18 overs while Collins claimed 2-39 from 16.

Aiden Morris also took two wickets, and Shiv Thakor, Johnny Gurney and Wells all snared one apiece.

With plenty of poor weather about, the teams shook hands with about ninety minutes of play remaining on day two.

* Leicestershire under 17s Championship victory bid at Northumberland also suffered with the weather, although the team did the county cup match.

In the two-day game, Northumberland made 353-8 at the picturesque venue of South Northumberland CC, with Wells leading the way with 3-60.

Collins also bowled with excellent control in taking 1-44 from twenty economical overs, while Rajiv Purohit, Thakor and Alex Martin were also in the wickets.

With rain about on day two, play was delayed until midday and the two teams negotiated a run chase.

Leicestershire pulled out on 119-1 after 24 overs, with opener Ramandeep Ghuman playing nicely in making an unbeaten 49. Shyam Patel had earlier made 34 and Thakor was 26 not out.

Northumberland then stuttered to 73-7 in their second innings with Collins in the wickets in taking 3-14. Slow left armer Purohit took 2-15 and Morris took the other scalp.

Rain then fell with the match delicately poised. Wells had just been out for a brilliant quickfire 85 in a display of controlled hitting to leave Leicestershire on 230-5 after 52.1 overs.

Captain Thakor (58), Martin (38) and Shyam Patel (33) had also been in fine form with the bat during that innings.

Leicestershire therefore needed a further 78 to win in the remaining 14.5 overs with five wickets in hand when the heavens opened at 6.41pm.

The declarations meant Northumberland took the first innings win and came out with 16 points, Leicestershire took nine.

The side won the one-day game, which was played on the same ground given Benwill Hill CC was flooded, with Tom Smith’s unbeaten 57 a key factor in a 39-run success.

Smith’s sensible innings was backed up by good contributions from James Kirkham (30), Tom Richardson (29), Ghuman (23) and George Crossley (22), who all helped get the side up to 217-8.

Leicestershire then defended that score with gusto. Off-spinner Shyam Patel, who was captain for the day, picked up 3-39 and Tom Corbett bowled nicely to take 3-43.

The opening bowler started well alongside Priyank Patel (1-18 from seven) and then returned to take the important wickets of John Chambers and Xavier Taylor.

Their partnership of 62 for the fourth wicket had threatened to win the game for the hosts but after Corbett’s good work, Shyam Patel and Martin (2-11) wrapped things up.

Zain Mir was the other wicket taker in the innings and given four players had returned home to play for the Academy, it was an impressive win at a fantastic venue to play cricket on.