By John Virr – 2nd XI Scorer
On a cloudy, overcast morning skipper, Owen Smith won the toss and elected to field. Sol Budinger opened the innings for our visitors and he was very well caught at cover by debutant Archie Barraclough off Jay Singh in the 5th over but not before he had amassed 38 from his 25 deliveries with 6 fours and a six.
Kalsi joined Rajashekar and a sense of “normality” returned. Isaac Bepey struck in his 4th over bowling Kalsi for 1: 47-2 and this brought Lewis Hill to the crease. He and Rajashekar added 24 in 65 deliveries before Hill was caught low at cover by Peter Greenfield off Rizwan Ishfaq. Hill made 12 and Leicestershire were 71-3. Liam Trevaskis joined Rajashekar and at lunch they were unbeaten and the score had advanced to 96-3.
Trevaskis, after lunch, struck 5 fours in the space of 6 deliveries and the score reached 132 before Bepey had Rajashekar caught at fine leg by Jay Singh – he made 25 from 105 balls with 2 fours. Trevaskis made 42 from 49 deliveries when he was caught at mid off by Smith off Tom Bradleys bowling. Maddy joined Fanibanda and it was the latter who fell next lbw to Smith for 37 from 60 balls: 189-6. Rizvi fell just before tea, caught behind to give Barraclough a first victim. At tea Leicestershire were 219-7.
After tea Maddy and Farooq took their partnership to 51 from 70 deliveries before Barraclough took the next 2 wickets to finish with 3-43 from 15 overs. Smith took the last wicket and our visitors were 274 all out.
Only 8 balls were bowled before bad light brought a close to the day – Yorkshire 7-0.
Day 2
Despite the forecast of rain most of the day play started on time. Fin Bean and Peter Greenfield resumed at 8 without loss and had reached 40 when the latter was well caught at slip by Budinger off Dunn for 11 from 47 deliveries.
Joe Thompson joined Bean and they took the total to 74 when rain brought a halt to play at 11.52: Bean 37 not out from 53 deliveries with 7 fours – Thompson survived an appeal when the ball struck the stumps but the bails were not dislodged.
An early lunch was taken at 12.30. Further rain and ground delays meant play didn’t restart until 2.37pm and then only 16 balls were possible before more rain caused a further halt to play – Yorkshire 84-1: Bean 37 no and Thompson 21 no.
An early tea was taken but play was abandoned for the day at 3.43 pm.
Day 3
Finlay Bean was absent and Owen Smith joined Joe Thompson. Start of play was delayed by 15 minutes due to overnight rain and the 2 batters took their partnership to 53 from 90 deliveries before Thompson was lbw for 37: 137-3.
Noah Kelly made 14 from 38 before chipping to mid wicket and the last ball before lunch Smith was caught low at slip for 47 from 97 deliveries with 3 fours and a six. At lunch 169-5.
The afternoon session began with Singh and Firbank advancing our total to 188 before Singh was caught behind for 6 – this saw us go from 188-5 to 198 -8 as Firbank was bowled for 15 and Louie Wilson caught at slip for 5. Tom Bradley was caught behind for 6 and Rizwan Ishfaq caught at mid on for but it was thanks to a career best 19 not out from Isaac Bepey that we reached 232 all out, trailing by 42.
Bepey then had the dangerous Budinger caught at third man by Singh for 12 and then bowled Maddy for 9 – Leicestershire 26-2. Shortly after tea Firbank bowled Fanibanda for 15 and Ishfaq dismissed Rajashekar in the same fashion for 16.
Play was halted due to bad light at 4.47 and called off for the day at 5.14 due to rain.
Leicestershire resume on day 4 at 84-4, leading by 126.
Day 4
Due to overnight rain there was an initial ground delay. Lunch was taken at 12 noon with an inspection at 12.30 pm.
Following the inspection the game was called off as a draw.
Yorkshire 11 points Leicestershire 12 points
