Leicestershire Story

[Scurvy]

CC home to Derbyshire. Lose toss bowl

Team:

• NoB
• Boyce
• Thakor
• Sarwan
• Eckers
• Robson
• Gidman
• Naik
• Onions - Back from international duty, having played 0 games. In for Williams
• Dockrell
• Buck

Derbs. have an interesting team. A strong and experienced seam attack - Chambers, Palladino, Clare and Groenewald. But a batting line-up very reliant on Chanderpaul and Whiteley.

Day 1: Derbs. struggle to 75/3 at lunch. Testing opening spell from Buck and Onions removes Borrington (24 b Onions), and Gidman has Madsen caught by NoB (who took 64 balls to get 15). Crucially in his first over Naik gets Chanderpaul lbw 24. Derbs. lose wickets regularly to 160/5 at tea and 280/9 at close.

Day 2: 285/10, Whiteley scores a vital 88, Jones 45. All bowlers did well. Buck 20-4-46-1-2.30, Onions 24-7-66-2-2.75, Gidman 14.2-3-31-4-2.16, Naik 32-2-109-2-3.41, Dockrell 14-3-32-1-2.29. Unfortunately the batsmen were unable to build on a good bowling effort. Falling to 245/10 at close. Sarwan 46 and Eckers 45 are only batsmen to acquit themselves well. Clare 4-69, Palladino 3-43, Groenewald 2-56, Chambers 1-43. 40 behind.

Day 3: Slow scoring day, partly due to rain. Derbs. reach 220/5 at close, Chanderpaul and Borrington put on a key 126 partnership, both ct. Eckersley b Dockrell for 67. Burgoyne also contributes with a quick 57.

Day 4: 279/9 decl. Dockrell 4-94, Buck 2-46, Onions 1-51, Naik 2-76. Bat out draw to 225/3. Thakor 86*, Sarwan 47*, Boyce 69.

MoM: Whiteley for his important 88 in first innings.

Summary: Decent draw, albeit losing half a day to rain.

[Scurvy]

T20 home vs Nottinghamshire.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Cobb
3. Thakor
4. Wiese
5. SAL
6. Eckersley
7. Robson
8. Gidman
9. Taylor
10. Wells
11. Buck

Notts. without England internationals.

Leics: 100/2 at 15 overs, and kick on to 158/6 at 20. Cobb 43 (48), Wiese 35 (19), Robson 25 12), SAL 20 (11). Strong total.

Notts: Michael Lumb scores 57* (41) but receives little support from rest of team and Notts. are all out for 127 in 16th over. All the bowlers chip in, Wiese 2-0-13-1-6.50, Buck 2.1-0-15-2-6.92, Gidman 2-0-20-1-10.00, SAL 4-0-20-2-5.00, Taylor 4-0-33-2-8.25, Cobb 1-0-7-2-7.00.

MoM: 2 wickets and good 43 gives it to Cobb.

Summary: Solid performance.


A trip to Yorkshire now.

Team:

• NoB
• Cobb
• Thakor
• Wiese
• SAL
• Eckers
• Robson
• Gidman
• Taylor
• Wells
• Buck

Yorks: Buck bowls spell of 4-0-19-1-4.75 but Yorks. recover and Gale 65 (53) and Ballance 67* (53) build strong total of 144/2. SAL 4-0-26-1-6.50. Other bowlers expensive.

Leics: Poor start to 19/3, but Wiese 38 (32), SAL 37 (33) and Eckersley 27 (12) get us to 15 needed from the last over. Eckers gets two 4s but Sidebottom bowls Gidman and restricts to 11 runs. Meaning Yorks. win by 3 runs.
Sidebottom 4-0-18-2-4.50, Rainsford 4-0-21-2-5.25.

MoM: Ballance scored well, but Sidebottom made vital contribution.

Summary: A great game, just lost out, but if we bat like that regularly will win plenty t20 games.

[Scurvy]

At home in CC to Glamorgan, win toss bat.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Sarwan (back from international duty)
5. Eckersley
6. Robson
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Williams (covering Onions)
10. Dockrell
11. Buck

Brief report as I forgot to take notes -

Leics: 456/10, Thakor 147, Eckers 106

Lancs: 321/10, Naik 5-107.

Leics: 209/2, NoB 104*

Lancs: Bat out draw, 285/6. Newman 92. Naik 4-118.

MoM: Naik, 9 wickets, although Thak did well to score 147.

Summary: Bore draw, although we had a chance to make more progress on the 4th day.

[Scurvy]

T20 time.

First fixture in the competition is tough away at Nottinghamshire.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Wiese
5. S Al Hasan
6. Cobb
7. Eckersley
8. Gidman
9. Naik
10. Onions
11. Robson

Sarwan is on international duty after being selected for the WI tour of NZ. Not surprising as he averages 51.00 so far in FC games this season.
Nott. have both Swann and Broad in team, although Taylor misses this one.

Notts: Wiese gets 2 wickets for 2 runs in the first over, and the bowling is going well until the spinners get hit all over the place by Notts. middle order. Wessels scores a wonderful 73, and Notts. reach 135/9. Onions 4-23, Wiese 2-7, Gidman 2-27, Naik 1-18.

Leics: Incredibly close, with 8 needed from the last over, which Wiese gets in 3 balls. He scores a match winning 36* (43) with support from Naik 30 (19), and Onions 17* (9). Swann 3-11 and Broad 2-22 but other bowlers poor.

MoM: Wiese for a contribution with bat and ball, although Wessels played the best innings.

Summary: Good win. Good start to competitions.


Derbyshire at home,

Team:

1. NoB
2. Cobb (Boyce rested)
3. Thakor
4. Wiese
5. Al Hasan
6. Robson
7. Eckersley
8. Gidman
9. Taylor (in for Dockrell to boost batting)
10. Onions
11. Buck

Derbs: Restricted to 104/9, Gidman 2-15-3.75, SAL 4-0-13-3-3.25, Onions 2-17-4.25.

Leics: Knock off runs in 15 overs. NoB 46 (40), Cobb 25, Thak 23*.

MoM: SAL, although all bowlers did well.

Summary: Match never in doubt after Derbs. first innings.


Another home game against Durham.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Wiese
5. Cameron White (in for SAL)
6. Robson
7. Eckersley
8. Gidman
9. Taylor
10. Naik
11. Onions

Durham: 139/6, decent effort. Thornely got 77 (62). Wiese 2-24, Onions 1-37, Taylor 3-20-5.00.

Leics: Disappointing 120/8. White 50* (43) on debut only real plus. Chris Rushworth 3-21, Underwood 2-14.

MoM: Thornely was difference between sides.

Summary: Not happy with he run-chase.


Lancashire away:

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Wiese
5. SAL (Back in)
6. Robson
7. Eckersley
8. Gidman
9. Taylor
10. Wells (Onions on international duty)
11. Naik

Lancs. have Sehwag in their T20 team, obviously a danger opening batting.

Lancs: Sehwag fails to explode with a 33. Horton 92, Ashwell Prince 54. 180/1 is a very good total.

Leics: Fantastic chase, Cobb scores a quick 28 to set team underway, Eckersley scores 68, and Robson 48 to leave 5 needed from last over, but Coles bowls well to restrict us to 178/8, 2 runs short.

MoM: Coles just for the last over, although Horton batted well.

Summary: Wonderful match, which either team could win. 2 wins and 2 losses is a decent return from first 4 games on competition.

[Scurvy]

A trip to Somerset for a CT game now.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Sarwan
5. Eckerley (back from injury)
6. Cobb (Robson needs a rest)
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Onions
10. Dockrell
11. Buck

Somt: Compton scores a sublime 120* (121). Leading Somt. to 254/6. - Hard work for the bowlers, Onions 3-42, Gidman 1-37, Dockrell 2-70.

Leics: Excellent chase, NoB 72 (72) and Boyce 40 (36) set innings up. Although when they and Cobb (13 off 18) fall in quick time the chase falters. Thakor and Sarwan however guide the team home in the 37th over. 54* (66) and 67* 38 respectively.

MoM: Sarwan played an ideal innings given the situation when he came in, but Compton gets the award for scoring 120 at a run a ball.

Summary: Somerset are one of the best sides in game, and after scoring 240 looked favorites, but the batting really executed well.

[Scurvy]

We stay in Kent for a CC game.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Sarwan
5. Cobb
6. Robson
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Onions
10. Dockrell
11. Buck

Kent relying on their openers Key and Northeast to make runs, and are only playing 4 bowlers (including B Harmison as a bowler.)

Day 1: NoB out early (24 ct. Thomas b Harmison), but Thakor and Boyce build through day until Boyce is out for 100 early in the evening session. Sarwan comes in and scores a rapid 45 until he is caught at slip against Thomas. Thak reaches his 150 shortly before close of 361/3.

Day 2: Cobb slogs 20 and Thakor is out for 193 but the tail squeezes out enough to reach 509/10. Gidman with a useful 52*. Only spinner Riley bowls well, 41.5-8-94-3-2.25. Davies 2-121, Harmison 2-177, Thomas 92-2. Kent lose Key in the first over and Blake (50), Northeast (44) and Powell (41) all fall before close.

Day 3: Eventually slump to 271/10. Onions 2-62, Gidman 1-28, Dockrell 1-43, Sarwan 2-7, Naik fantastic 19-2-38-4-1.90. Follow-on is enforced, but Kent settle to 50/0 as seamers fail to take advantage of the new ball. Luckily Gidman comes in at first change and removes the top three, Northeast (35 lbw), Key (33 b) and Nash 0 (ct NoB). The rest of the team is spun out, except for Blake who is unlucky to be run out on 101. Naik 3-75, Sarwan 2-17, Gidman 3-51. 324/10.

Day 4: We have an entire day to make 53, and do so comfortably.

MoM: Naik got 7 wickets, but Thakor's 193 was a match winning contribution.

Summary: An excellent win, albeit against a Kent side with a thin bowling attack and only 1 batsman in form.

[Scurvy]

CT away at Kent.

Team:

1. NoB\
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Sarwan
5. Cobbs
6. Robson
7. Naik
8. Onions
9. Dockrell
10. Buck

Kent: Play very well to 242/6. Key 53 (61), Blake 77 (89), Hanlan 46 (34) and Stevens 36 (20). Buck 2-42, Onions 2-52 and Cobb 1-17.

Leics: Matching the run-rate all the way through innings until a maiden in the 39th over. 7 needed and Onions hits two 4's to win the game. Boyce 86 (92), Sarwan 56 (63). Davies 8-2-20-2-2.50, Stevens 3-53.

MoM: Davies for a phenomenal bowling performance.

Summary: A very good win considering Kent's total.

[Scurvy]

CC home to Northamptonshire. Lose toss bowl.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Sarwan
5. Cobb
6. Robson
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Onions
10. Dockrell
11. Buck

Norths. have WI international Narine this season, and a decent seam attack, but their batting looks poor.

Day 1: They bat day to 268/7, Newton gets 50, Coetzer 42, Willey 56 and Duckett 66 but none able to kick on to century.

Day 2: 315/10. Buck very economic 14-3-25-1-1.79, Onions 3-63, Naik 4-89 and Dockrell 1-64. We reach 81/2 at tea, Narine gets Nob for 21 in his first over, and Boyce falls for 32. Sarwan and Cobb both fall cheaply in final session to leave us 120/4 at close.

Day 3: Robson is out first over for 15, but Thakor is joined by Gidman for a partnership of 161 until he is out for 133. Gidman reaches 110 before being caught and bowled by Evans, and the team is all out for 383 shortly after. Evans good for 5-94, Narine 4-112.

Day 4: Draw day. Norths. 341/3, Hall 96*, Newton 86. Leics. 95/3, Thak 38.

MoM: Thakor.... again, although Evans bowled very well.

Summary: Solid draw, a shame we let their second innings get away a bit.

[Scurvy]

A difficult away game in the CT against Yorkshire.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Sarwan
5. Cobb
6. Robson
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Onions
10. Dockrell
11. Buck

Yorks: play a strong team, including Ballance Bairstow and Rashid.

Leics: Fantastic 245/3, Thakor 113 (125), NoB 90 (86), Cobb 17 (11).

B]Yorks[/B]: A difficult chase started well when Ballance and Vince both got to 50's, but Naik got a hat-trick in his first over and ended game in doing so. Yorks. ending in 30th over 181/10. Dockrell also bowled well 3-47. Naik 3-40, Gidman 2-9, Buck 1-30.

MoM: Naik, could have been MoM last match, is this match for key moment, although bowlers were set up by Thakor's 113.

Summary: A very good win, Naik and Thakor winning games at the moment.

[Scurvy]

A difficult game against a Nottinghamshire side who somehow contrived to be relegated. Win toss bat.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Sarwan (back in business)
5. Cobb
6. Robson
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Onions
10. Dockrell
11. Buck (Wyatt has had a few bad games, so thought i'd give him a go)

Thankfully Broad and Swann are away on international duty, but Notts. still have room in their team for ex-England players Patel, Shahzad and Mascarenhas, and fringe England player James Taylor.

Day 1: Bat day to 334/10. Thakor continues good form with 114. Boyce picks up a useful 53 and Cobb contributes a typical 42. Mascarenhas 4-76, Gurney 2-98, Shazhad 2-59 and Patel 2-102.

Day 2: Notts. start well to 209/3. Smith 84 (lbw Naik) and Taylor 88 (b. Dockrell). But struggle in afternoon to 285/5.

Day 3: Wessels is out for 95 early (lbw Naik) and Notts. are all out for 400. Naik is as usual best bowler with 6-96 at 3.02 econ. Buck good is first innings of season with 2-74. Dockrell 1-52, Sarwan 1-44. NoB out for 9, but Boyce and Thakor bat to 213/1 at close.

Day 4: Declare on 305/4. Thak 76, Boyce 74, Sarwan 70*, Robson 50. Notts. bat to a draw 170/3, Dockrell getting all three wickets.

MoM: For second match in a row, Thakor, just for volume of runs scored. Naiks bowing was also worthy of note.

Summary: Happy with a draw against Notts. although it was a strangely uninteresting game.

[Scurvy]

A trip to Derbyshire next... lose toss, bowl.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thak
4. Smith (Sarwan rested due to fatigue)
5. Cobb
6. Robson
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Onions
10. Dockrell
11. Wyatt

Derbys. don't have a particularly intimidating team. The batting seems to be around the 30-35 average mark, while the bowling is a little better with Clare, Footit and Groenwald all solid county seamers.

Day 1: Onion gets two early wickets (Madsen 5, Borrington 10) and Gidman chips in to get Redfern lbw on 19. Godleman is lbw on 0 to Dockrell and when Hughes is bowled by Naik for 44 just after lunch Derbs. are struggling at 102/5. Unfortunately Derbs. battle back brilliantly. Whitely and Clare put on 113 for the 6th wicket, when Clare is 64 caught to Onions, who gets G Jones for 6 the next over. At tea the score is 250/7. Whitely and Groenwald bat out the session, ending the day on 370/7.

Day 2: Whitely bats on to 194 (b Wyatt) and Groenwald 55 (lbw Naik), Hutchinson hits a brisk 51 and Derbyshire reach an excellent 460/10 at tea. Considering they were 102/5 the middle-lower order did brilliantly. Wyatt 1-101, Onions 5-109, Gidman 1-62, Dockrell 1-114, Naik 2-59, Cobb 0-18. NoB (5 b Clare), Boyce (9 lbw Hutch) and Smith (10 b Footit) are all out early, but Thakor and Cobb take side to 220/3 at close.

Day 3: Cobb is out for 103 (lbw Clare) in a partnership of 202, but Robson takes his place and reach 445/4. Robson is out for 115 (lbw Clare) just after tea. Thakor reaches 200 mid-session and is out in the last over of the day for 233. Close on 570/6

Day 4: 610/6 declared, Gidman 72* and Naik 38*, Derbs. bat to 293/2, Borrington picking up 145.

MoM: Thakor, in a match of high scores he scored highest.

Summary: Was always likely to be a draw when both teams reach 450. A bit disappointed to only take 2 wickets on final day.

[Scurvy]

Another 2 CT games, first up at home again to Kent.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thakor
4. Sarwan
5. Cobb
6. Robson
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Onions
10. Dockrell
11. Wyatt

Kent have a similar team to CC also, although Schreck comes in to boost bowling.

Leics: Solid 226/6. NoB 44 (45) and Boyce 50 (79) set platform and Thakor 75 (76) and Sarwan 27 (19) build. Only disappointment is a failure to hit out in final overs despite having wickets in hand. Kent's best bowler is Harmison at 3-63, albeit with a poor economy.

Kent: Never in chase. Bell-Drummond who was absent in the CC game hits an impressive 44 (35) but doesn't get much help. Innings ends in the 28th over at 147/10. Dockrell 4-32, Onions 2-23, Wyatt 2-40.

MoM: Dockrell, ripped through middle order to end game

Summary: Solid win against an average OD side

At home again for the visit of Middlesex.

Same team. Middlesex have a strong line-up Denly, Robson, Malan and Dexter all good county batsmen. Berg, Roland-Jones, Murtargh and Harris are a first class bowling unit.

Leics: Remarkably similar to previous innings. NoB and Boyce see off first overs, and Sarwan and Thak go for bowling, scoring 49 (57) and 94 (109). Robson chipped in with a useful 34 (21). 220/4 gives bowlers plenty to work with.

Middx: Wyatt (7-1-28-3-4.00) and Onions (8-1-24-4-3.00) have best game for club, running through the top order and deciding game within 8 overs. Only Denly 21 (18) reaches 20, Middlesex 107/10.

MoM: Onions, just from his new ball partner.

Summary: Outstanding win against a strong side, 4 wins in 4 in the CT so far is well above expectations.

[Scurvy]

How's Wyatt been for you?

Pretty average, got 35 wickets at 34 last season and heading for about that so far this one, a bit compromised by playing home games on a spinning pitch.

[DaveK93]

How's Wyatt been for you?

[Dick Van Dykes Disco Dog]

He's done well so far.

I agree and I usually enjoy the second season more than the first. I was a bit limited by budget as to how many players I could bring in, hopefully a few more will leave the end of this season to free up space. How did your Yorkshire team do in 2014?

Hope you got him to sign for 3 years !!

Haven't started the season yet. Think their squad must have been about 30 players at the start of the game - which was crazy.
Would much rather have a core 18-20 rather than 25+ where you know 5 or more simply wont get a game.
If I was patient then maybe I would have waited another season as quite a few of the guys I got rid of were out of contract by end of the 2014 season .... But I'm not very patient