Friday, May 19th, 2023

LEACH AND WAITE SHINE WITH BALL AS WORCESTERSHIRE ARE SET 271 TARGET

Worcestershire were set a 271 target after Matthew Waite’s career-best figures in the LV=Insurance County Championship and Joe Leach’s five-for had been responsible for dismissing Leicestershire for 180 on day two at New Road.

Waite produced a deadly four-wicket blast as Leicestershire lost their last five wickets for 20 runs.

The all-rounder finished with 4-21 to surpass his previous best figures of 4-35 in the corresponding fixture last season when on loan from Yorkshire.

Leach had done the early damage on his way to figures of 20.1-9-41-5 – his 16th five-wicket haul.

When Worcestershire batted, Jack Haynes and Gareth Roderick battled through to the close at 26-2 from 16 overs after the dismissal of Azhar Ali and Ed Pollock.

Twenty two wickets fell on day one and Leach was soon into his stride this morning with the ball.

Josh Davey could only help a delivery which bounced on him to Pollock at first slip and Will Davis went lbw working to leg.

There was more joy for Leach when Colin Ackerman fenced at a delivery outside the off stump and Pollock did the rest.

Leach’s morning spell brought the excellent figures of 7-4-15-3 before Lewis Hill and Peter Handscomb entrenched themselves during a partnership of 71 in 30 overs on a pitch where the occasional ball still misbehaved.

Handscomb, on 11, had to survive a delivery from Adam Finch which spat up off a length and flew onto the off-side and then a confident appeal for lbw from Waite to the last ball before lunch.

Waite then instigated a collapse which saw five wickets tumble for 20 runs.

His first over back into the attack brought about the downfall of Hill, one short of a half century, when he inside edged onto his stumps.

Waite then struck three times in an over.

He ended the resistance of Handscomb who battled away for 26 off 98 balls but then aimed a blow on the leg side and was caught off a leading edge by Brett D’Oliveira running back to deep mid off.

Wiaan Mulder attempted to force Waite off the back foot and was taken at second slip by Haynes, who then pulled off a fine low one-handed effort to the next delivery to dismiss Tom Scriven.

Leach wrapped up the innings when Rehan Ahmed went for a big blow and was stumped by Roderick.

Worcestershire lost two wickets in Davey’s opening over.

Azhar Ali tried to work the ball through mid wicket and instead edged low to first slip. Pollock aimed a blow on the leg side, but instead, the ball lobbed a catch to cover.