Season Review Part Two - May

In the second part of our season review for 2009, we take a look at May. The team entered the month with Twenty20 just around the corner. However, firstly, there was FPT and Championship action.

The Foxes’ next one-day assignment was a swift rematch with Hampshire at the Rose Bowl and the Hawks completed the double with a dominant performance. However, the team responded strongly and beat both Ireland and Worcestershire in the next two fixtures.

Centuries were the highlight of both games, with HD Ackerman making a majestic ton against the Irish and Taylor continued his fine form by becoming the Foxes’ youngest ever centurion in a List A match at New Road.

The Irish put up one heck of a fight during a rain-affected affair, with Paul Stirling catching the eye with an excellent innings. However, Ackerman guided the side home with a sumptuous knock and the team were off and running.

Taylor’s ton was the highlight against Worcestershire, but there were plenty of other good displays too. Ackerman batted well for 63 and Boeta Dippenaar also played nicely in making the same score as the Foxes posted a good tally of 282-3.

There was then an excellent bowling and fielding display, which saw Wayne White, Jim Allenby and Alex Wyatt take five wickets with seam and Claude Henderson taking an excellent 3-44. Between them, the spin duo of Henderson and Carl Crowe conceded just 85 runs from their nineteen overs, which was crucial.

There were also a couple of run outs and the whole performance was excellent and gave the team a timely boost.

Unfortunately, just as the team were back into contention, they were out of the competition largely down to the weather, The next two games were washed out, though, and Notts won a heavily rain-affected game at Grace Road to ensure the team could not produce a comeback and progress to the quarter-finals.

Inbetween, the team lost their first four-day game of the season at Bristol. Anthony Ireland triggered a first-innings collapse as Leics went from 83-0 to 96-8 on the first day. It was a precarious position and one the team did not recover from.

The team took the match into the final day, but apart from the opening stand from Matthew Boyce and Tom New, the hosts were always in control. It was a major disappointment, particularly given the young left-handed duo had set the game up for the team in tricky conditions.

The Twenty20 campaign then got underway and the side needed to hit the ground running. They certainly did that in terms of performance – if not result – during an exciting game at Headingley Carnegie, where Yorkshire nicked a last-over win.

Before the game, it was announced that Dippenaar would take the reins for Twenty20 to give Paul Nixon a break from his other duties as wicket-keeper and batsman.

His first task was to win the toss and elect to bat, which proved a wise decision. Ackerman batted through the Foxes knock for an unbeaten 66, while cameos from Allenby (10), Taylor (31) and Nixon – who made a quickfire 31 towards the end – ensured the team had something to bowl at with a total of 148-3.

Jigar Naik, Henderson and White all shone with the ball, and left Carnegie requiring 22 from the final two overs. However, a heroic innings from Ajmal Shahzad saw the hosts home in dramatic style.

He made 17 from eight balls – including a crucial six in the penultimate over – as Yorkshire triumphed in front of a decent crowd.

Derbyshire then won comfortably at Grace Road three days later to leave the Foxes with an uphill climb, but the situation looked far better after a great win against Durham the following evening. On a perfect day for cricket, the Foxes registered a fine win.

With the picturesque backdrop of Lumley Castle on a hot day, the setting was awesome and the game followed suit.

The Dynamos named England duo Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions in their side, but a fine bowling and fielding display – led by debutant Wyatt’s excellent 3-14 off four which included a maiden – ensured County had a chase of 145.

It could have been even less until Gareth Breese batted brutally at the end of the knock, but if that score had been offered beforehand, Dippenaar would have snapped your hand off.

It was still going to need some chasing, particularly given Durham’s strong attack which included the England pair, the ever-reliable Neil Killeen, the improving Mitchell Claydon and the dual spin threat of Ian Blackwell and Breese.

Allenby and Nixon led the way with half-centuries, with Nixon’s four off Killeen from the final ball of the penultimate over a critical blow.

It was a great shot that raced through straight mid-wicket. It beat both a diving mid-wicket fielder to his right and a long-on boundary rider sprawling to his left to leave ten needed from the last over.

However, only three runs were taken from the first four balls and Allenby was lost in the process. du Toit sealed the deal in some style, though.

Needing seven from the last two balls, the hard-hitting batsman launched Collingwood for an almighty straight six and then a four over cover to spark mass celebrations in the visiting dressing room.

Although a defeat in front of the cameras followed to tournament favourites Lancashire, County again showed spirit in that match. Allenby and Dippenaar batted well before Harry Gurney was outstanding with the ball.

The team ran into an in-form Francois du Plessis, though, and the diminutive South African played a blinding knock to guide his team home.

It meant the team badly needed back-to-back victories against Notts and Derbyshire as the season entered early June – and boy did they deliver!

Running totals: Championship: P3 W0 D2 L1

FPT P8 W2 L4 A2

T20 P4 W1 L3

Player of the month: James Taylor