Friday, August 5th, 2016

Sharp Happy As Seconds Move Into Top Three After Two Day Win

Sharp Happy As Seconds Move Into Top Three After Two Day Win

Coach Kevin Sharp was delighted with Worcestershire Seconds performance in the two-day win over Nottinghamshire at RGS Worcester which lifted them into third spot in the North Group of the Second Eleven Championship. ,

The Seconds secured their third win of the campaign in the competition after bowling out Notts for 96 and 213 and replying with 208 and 104-3 to secure a seven wicket success.

There were outstanding performances from opener Will Fraine, who equalled his best Championship score of 87, and bowlers Jack Shantry and Alexei Kervezee who picked up seven wickets in the first and second innings respectively.

Sharp said: "They did well. There have been some outstanding performances. The team as a whole gelled together and played some good cricket.

"We had some excellent periods, one or two periods where they were in control a little bit, but I thought we played better than Notts. We outplayed them.

"We bowled them out (for 96) and got just over 200 when it looked as if we were going to get quite a few more but we lost the last five wickets for next to nothing.

"But it was like that during the game. Wickets tended to fall in clusters. We got 100 in front and they started well second innings and knocked off the deficit with only one or two wickets down.

"Then the spinners kicked in and bowled well for a period and Kervezee got seven wickets. It was great.

"Notts opened with two spinners in our second innings but our lads played with real positivity and we knocked them off quickly.

"It was the way to play. We just looked to dominate them rather than let them bowl at us and it worked. It was a very good win."

Fraine had also scored 87 in the exciting draw with Yorkshire Seconds at Scarborough.

Sharp said: "He has played really well. He is a good player. He is a Yorkshire lad who plays club cricket at Himley and he goes to Durham University and he has had quite a good season with them.

"He has had the opportunity with us on three or four occasions and he has done really well so credit to him."

Shantry responded in positive fashion after not being included in the first team for the past two Championship matches.

Sharp said: "He bowled as he does, and there was a little bit of help in the pitch early on, and it seamed and swung and they couldn't get near him. He bowled as he does in good areas."

The Seconds other victories in the competition came against Leicestershire at Oakham School and Northamptonshire at Kidderminster.

Sharp has been able to ensure the Seconds remain competitive despite international calls – five players are currently part ofthe England Under-19 squad – and the likes of skipper George Rhodes being promoted to the senior side.

He said: "That's a challenge when you lose players but now the schools and universities break up, we've got lads available who we know well and all our Academy are available.

"It's pretty much our policy to want to play our own players through the academy and, when there are opportunities, to give others a chance who are not officially involved with the club.

"What we are good at is fast-tracking players, giving them opportunities. This week we've had young Jack Haynes playing against Notts who is only 15.

"It gives him a chance to feel what the standard is like. It is great we can do that."

SECOND ELEVEN TABLE NORTH GROUP

TOP SIX

Lancashire Played 9, Won 4, Lost 0, Drawn 3, Abandoned 2, Bat 17, Bowl 25, Points 131

Durham 7, 4, 1, 2, 0, 17, 24, 115

WORCS 7, 3, 3, 1, 0, 17, 23, 93

Notts 8, 2, 3, 2, 1, 13, 27, 87

Warks 8, 0, 0, 7, 1, 23, 20, 83

Derbys 7, 1, 2, 3, 1, 13, 18, 67