Friday, May 7th, 2021

LIBBY AND HAYNES SHINE WITH BAT FOR COUNTY IN STRONG REPLY WITH BAT AT EDGBASTON

Jake Libby moved within touching distance of a personal milestone with another excellent knock for Worcestershire on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship derby with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The opening batsman continued his fine form with an accomplished 74 to spearhead a powerful Worcestershire reply after the home side had been bowled out for 343 shortly before lunch.

It means Libby is now within 17 runs of completing 1,000 in first-class cricket for Worcestershire, with this being only his 10th match for the County.

The 28-year-old has hit three centuries and five fifties in that period, and this summer has scores of 180 not out, 0, 21, 117, 41, 52 not out and 74.

Jack Haynes also batted impressively in his first Championship appearance of the season.

After earning a recall following his 165 for the Seconds against Lancashire Seconds at Stourport last week, he seized his chance.

The England Under-19 player brought up his fifty shortly before the close and was unbeaten on 52 with Worcestershire 198-4 from 72 overs.

Warwickshire resumed this morning on 271-7 from 96 overs with Michael Burgess unbeaten on 65 and Worcestershire Club Captain Joe Leach and Ed Barnard bowled well without any luck during their initial spells.

Josh Tongue made the first breakthrough of the day with two balls remaining of the 110 overs permitted for bonus points when Danny Briggs (24) went lbw to a delivery that came back into him.

Tongue came close to claiming another scalp when Liam Norvell survived a chance behind the wicket before he had scored.

But it did not prove costly as he was yorked by Alzarri Joseph for nine shortly after Burgess had completed a 169 ball hundred – his first for Warwickshire.

Barnard wrapped up the innings when Burgess (101) drilled a delivery to Tom Fell at cover.

Barnard finished with figures of 21.2-6-76-3, Leach 25-6-62-2, Tongue 26-3-82-2, Joseph 23-3-80-1 and D’Oliveira 22-3-31-2.

Worcestershire openers Daryl Mitchell and Libby negotiated 15 minutes before lunch, although the latter was dropped at first slip off Norwell.

Libby instantly looked in good touch and turned Olly Stone off his legs for four, and produced a back-foot drive for a boundary at Olly Hannon-Dalby’s expense.

Mitchell leg glanced Hannon-Dalby for four but was lbw to Norwell for 12 to a delivery which jagged back sharply.

Fell looked in good nick and twice cover-drove Stone for boundaries.

But on 20, he drove at a widish delivery from Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes and edged through to keeper Burgess.

Libby completed his half-century when he cut a short ball from Tim Bresnan behind square for his eighth four, and a cover drive off the same bowler brought up the 100 in the 35th over.

New batsman Haynes showed excellent timing in turning Norwell off his hips for his first four.

Libby had advanced to 74 out of 123-2 by tea from 120 balls with 13 fours.

But he did not add to his score when, in the fourth over of the final session, he went back to a delivery from Stone and picked out Sam Hain at short leg.

Brett D’Oliveira was greeted with a testing delivery from Stone which flew off the shoulder of the bat over the wicket-keeper and slips for four.

Haynes continued to impress with a pull in front of square and a clip off his legs, bringing boundaries at Hannon-Dalby’s expense.

D’Oliveira (15) was caught behind off Rhodes at 161-4, but Haynes went to his fifty from 118 balls with a cover drive off Norwell for his sixth four.