Leicestershire Story

[Scurvy]

Start of the CT season. First up its home to the Netherlands.

Team

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

Neths: Lose early wickets - Myburgh 0, Szwarczynski 3 and Tom Cooper 14 (not very Dutch sounding, but excellent OD player 37.36 av.). 3-33. Spinners run through the middle order and the Dutch capitulate to 135/10 off 34.4 overs. Onions 2-14-2.47, Wyatt 2-58-5.60, Naik 3-24-3.00, Gidman 38-1-4.75, Dockrell 2-27-3.37.

Leics: Make a mess of run chase. Should have been easy but team conspire to reach 66/6 in the 26th over. but thankfully Gidman scores 47 (42) to see team home in the 39th over. Thakor 21, Robson 25. Eckers made 3 off 23 balls!

MoM: Bowlers played well as a unit, Gidman MoM as only batsman to really apply himself.

Summary: A bit lucky that Netherlands could only score 135, as that batting performance would have lost any other match.


Away at Unicorns. Eckers is injured so Cobb comes in to his batting spot and NoB keeps wicket.

Leics: Steady 30 from first 10. Then Unicorns bring on the spinners and we hit them out of game, 174/2 off 30 overs and 251/8 at close. NoB 89, Boyce 21, Sarwan 68 (55), Cobb 22 (16). Querl again impressive 27-3-3.37.

Unicorns: Abject 141/10 in 22 overs, albeit forced to be aggressive due to high total. Park 44 and Hill 39 only two batsmen to do anything. Last 7 wickets were all lbw. Onions 33-2-5.30, Wyatt 35-3-5.83, Gidman 23-3-5.75, Cobb 15-2-7.50.

MoM: Again bowlers impressive as a unit. but NoB top scored and took game away from Dutch with first few overs against the spinners.

Summary: A much better batting performance, and the bowlers retained their level from first game. Encouraging start albeit against the two worst sides in CT.

[Scurvy]

I used Dockrell in last years game and he did really well for me.

Contracts section after first season is when you really get to put your own stamp on the team.
In my Yorkshire save at end of 2013 season I released/didn't re-sign about 10-12 players who had either not played or wanted too much money (Sidebottom wanted £65K so I picked up 2 LFMs in Lewis Hatchett and David Payne, both who had taken 60+ wickets .. and still had £10K to bank !!) ..... bought in 8 replacements and now have a much better balance to the squad - perfect

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?

[Scurvy]

CC home to Kent.

Team:

1. NoB
2. Boyce
3. Thak
4. Sarwan
5. Cobb (Eckers injured)
6. Robson
7. Gidman
8. Naik
9. Onions
10. Dockrell
11. Wyatt

Kent have an unremarkable batting line-up. Openers Key and Sam Northeast look key to their batting. Ian Butler the NZ bowler is their overseas player this season, and combines with Mark Davies and James Tredwell in a good looking bowling attack.

Day 1: Boyce out early 0 b. Davies. NoB however powers to 50 off 70 balls and out for 60. Sarwan (2 lbw Tredwell) and Cobb (8 c NE b Tredwell) and we are left 129/4 at lunch. Thak and Robson recover position slightly with 54 (lbw Tredwell) and 61 (lbw B Harmison) respectively. Team is 250/7 at tea and tail scrambles 288/10, Gidman ending with 59*. Tredwell bowls brilliantly 25.2-3-73-6-2.88. Davies 2-68-3.24. B Harmison 2-66. Kent close on 70/1 (Key 23 lbw Gidman).

Day 2: Northeast plays well to 77 (lbw Gidman) and Nash reaches his 50 just before lunch when things are looking ominous at 189/2. But a good bowling session sees Kent fall to 282/6, Nash 57 (b Naik), Powell 34 (c Onions, b Naik) and Harmison 17 (b Cobb). Irritating stand between Hanlan (59) and Bates (46) helps Kent to 353/10, a first innings lead of 65. Seamers poor - Onions 0-76 and Wyatt 0-73, although Gidman 3-46. Cobb 1-11, Dockrell 1-61. Naik pick of bowlers 20-1-72-5-3.57. Kent have time to score 3/0.

Day 3: Boyce and NoB are both out to new ball, but our most reliable pairing, Sarwan and Thakor reach lunch at 82/2. A partnership of 110 is broken when Sarwan is run out. Cobb scores a brisk 33 and Thak is out on 87 at tea (both lbw Tredwell). Robson and Gidman bat through session to 322/5 at close.

Day 4: Declare on 383/5 midway through session, Robson 108* and Gidman 52*. Butler 2-74, Tredwell 2-38. A lead of 318 is gettable but unlikely. Key and Northeast are both out early and with the exception of Nash the Kent batsmen fail to get in and collapse to an ignominious 165/10. Nash eventually caught on 58. New ball partnership for once succeeded, Onions 2-31, Wyatt 2-54. Naik good again 3-32.

MoM: Off-spinners Naik and Tredwell both got 8 wickets, but Robson gets nod for top scoring in both innings.

Summary Not much to add, makes a change for the bowling to be better than the batting.

[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

[DaveK93]

How's Wyatt been for you?

[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.

[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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.