Friday, September 3rd, 2021

SECONDS INVOLVED IN HIGH SCORING ENCOUNTER AT STOURPORT

Worcestershire Seconds went down by two wickets on a high-scoring final day with Leicestershire Seconds at Stourport.

Seconds captain, Charlie Morris, a century-maker on the third day, opted to declare overnight at 290-9.

It left Leicestershire with a target of 399 in 96 overs and, after a rollercoaster day, they edged home with four overs to spare.

Worcestershire paceman Ben Parker, who had picked up four wickets in the first innings, made the first breakthrough.

Opener Ajay Khunti survived one dropped chance but was then trapped lbw to Parker with the total on 48 in the 16th over.

Only 26 overs were bowled in the two hour session before lunch in which Leicestershire reached 85-1 with former Worcestershire all-rounder George Rhodes, unbeaten on 35.

Henry Cullen took over the gloves from Gareth Roderick for the afternoon session to enable both keepers to have a stint behind the stumps during the game.

Rhodes completed his half-century off 98 balls with six boundaries.

Parker came back into the attack and ended a stand of 128 between Rhodes and Max Law, who was leg before for 53 off 81 balls.

It was his sixth wicket of the game.

Cullen came into the attack when Sam Bates (20) nicked a delivery from Mitchell Stanley, and then Roderick held onto a chance at mid-wicket off Morris to end Rhodes knock on 107.

Wickets began to fall at regular intervals, with Ismail Mahmood having Sam Wood (18) caught at long-off and Roman Walker (11) at short leg while in between Scott Steel (31) was lbw to Reeve Evitts.

It became 331-8 when Jacques Banton had Alex Evans (8) leg before.

But an unbroken stand of 70 between Nathan Bowley (55) and James Funnell (38) earned victory for Leicestershire.

Parker ended with 14-2-67-2, Mohammed 7-0-40-2, Evitts, 6-1-26-1, Stanley 10.5-1-46-1, Banton 13-2-50-1 and Morris 15-3-75-1.