Tom Fell excelled on his home ground as Worcestershire Seconds experienced mixed fortunes in their two T20 matches with MCC Young Cricketers at Wolverhampton CC today.
Fell registered scores of 65 and 48 not out at the club where he played for many years before joining Worcestershire – and continues to play for in the Birmingham Premier League when County commitments allow.
Worcestershire went down by three wickets in the opening match after being put in but then cruised to a nine wicket win in Game Two after MCC YC had elected to bat.
Kevin Sharp, Worcestershire’s Head Coach took charge of the Seconds for the double header and experienced a reunion with his former Yorkshire clubmate Steve Kirby who is Head Coach of MCC YC.
In Game One, Worcestershire posted a challenging 190-3 in 20 overs.
Skipper Ollie Westbury – 73 off 47 balls – and Fell – 65 off 38 deliveries – put on 106 in 10 overs for the second wicket.
Both batsmen hit two sixes and eight fours and then Alex Milton weighed in with an unbeaten 27 from 22 balls.
MCC YC looked to be making light of their task after racing to 142-2 despite former Northamptonshire paceman Azharullah, who was making another appearance for the Seconds, claiming an early wicket.
But then three wickets fell in three balls in an over from Zain Ul-Hassan – the run out of Ben Curran for 65 plus two dismissals by the bowler.
At 159-7 in the 17th over, the game was in the balance but Ben Sears (26 not out) and Kiel van Vollenhoven (12 not out) saw the visitors home with one ball to spare.
George Rhodes returned the excellent figures of 4-0-24-2 and Ul-Hassan 4-0-30-2 while Azharullah finished with 2-37.
In Game Two MCC never recovered from an initial three wicket blast from Brinder Phagura who sent back Curran (12), Marc Lezar (0) and Brandon Gilmour (0) to reduce them to 22-3.
He finished with 3-13 and Azharullah (2-15), Ul-Hassan (2-15) and Rhodes (2-19) kept the pressure on as MCC were bowled out for 110 in just 16 overs.
Westbury made a quickfire 22 out of 26 when Worcestershire replied and then Fell – 48 not out from 20 balls with two sixes and seven fours – and Rhodes – 39 not out with two sixes and four fours – powered the Seconds home in just 9.1 overs.
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GAME ONE
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WORCESTERSHIRE SECONDS
Rhodes c Gilmour b Willerton 10
Westbury c Bhula b Hudson-Prentice 73
Fell c Imtiaz b Sears 65
Milton not out 27
Dell not out 9
Extras 6
Total (for 3 wickets) 190 in 20 overs
FOW: 20, 126, 160
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BOWLING
Curran 2-0-15-0
Sears 4-0-35-1
Willerton 4-0-41-1
Hudson-Prentice 4-0-46-1
Van Vollenhoven 2-0-22-0
Birts 4-0-31-0
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MCC YOUNG CRICKETERS
Curran run out (Azharullah) 66
Lezar b Azharullah 5
Imtiaz st Milton b Rhodes 18
Hudson-Prentice c Westbury b Azharullah 45
Gilmour st Milton b Rhodes 8
Bhula lbw Ul-Hassan 0
Collis b Ul-Hassan 0
Sears not out 26
Van Vollenhoven not out 12
Extras 11
Total (for 7 wickets) 197 in 19.5 overs
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BOWLING
Phagura 4-0-49-0
Parker-Cole 1-0-6-0
Azharullah 3.5-0-37-2
Ul-Hassan 4-0-30-2
Rhodes 4-0-24-2
Twohig 3-0-40-0
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GAME TWO
MCC YOUNG CRICKETERS
Curran c Westbury b Phagura 12
Lezar b Phagura 0
Imtiaz c Dell b Azharullah 25
Gilmour c Milton b Phagura 0
Hudson-Prentice run out 2
Bhula b Azhurrah 7
Callis b Rhodes 47
Van Vollenhoven st Milton b Rhodes 8
Dunford c Clarke b Ul-Hassan 6
Birts not out 1
Willerton c Clarke b Ul-Hassan 0
Extras 2
Total (all out) 110 in 16 overs
FOW: 1, 22, 22, 38, 40, 50, 97, 108, 110, 110
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BOWLING
Phagura 2-0-13-3
Parker-Cole 2-0-25-0
Azharullah 3-0-15-2
Ul-Hassan 4-1-15-2
Twohig 2-0-23-0
Rhodes 3-0-19-2
