Centurions inspire terrific Seconds win

Date: Friday 03 June 2011

Ned Eckersley and Joel Garrett both made brilliant hundreds as Leicestershire Seconds won a thrilling Championship game against Nottinghamshire at Lady Bay Sports Ground.

The team were set 301 to win in 57 overs and Eckersley (114) and Garrett (109) joined forces in a terrific second-wicket stand as Leicestershire triumphed with an over to spare.

Notts had earlier added a further 166 to their overnight score of 73-0 and left Leicestershire just under two sessions to get the runs.

The odds were stacked against Leicestershire but former MCC Young Cricketer Eckersley and Garrett, who is playing for Lutterworth this season, were in superb form.

When Eckersley was run out, eight runs were required from the final two overs with four wickets in hand to leave a potentially nervy finish.

But Leicestershire reached their target without further loss to land their third Championship victory in a row.

* Liam Kinch made 97 as Leicestershire Second XI fought hard on the second day of the game.

Kinch's tally, along with scores in the thirties from Eckersley and Garrett, helped County post 304.

That came in reply to Notts' first innings score of 355 and the hosts moved to 73-0 in their second innings by the close.

It meant Nottinghamshire lead by 124 going into the final day, so the game is nicely poised.

* Nottinghamshire recovered from 178-8 to post 339-9 on the first day of the match.

Leicestershire started well with all-rounder Shiv Thakor, who took three wickets in the Trophy game on Tuesday, led the way with 3-59.

New-ball pair Harry Gurney (2-70) and Alex Wyatt (2-74) were also in the wickets, as were Sam Cliff and James Sykes, who took one apiece.

However, Peter Turnbull, who played for Cambridge MCCU against the first XI in a first-class game in 2010, made a century as the hosts bounced back.