Tuesday, June 14th, 2022

TWO SPELLS FOR LEACH AS HE LAUNCHES COMEBACK FOR SECONDS

Joe Leach launched his comeback from injury by bowling two short spells for Worcestershire Seconds on day one of the Second Eleven Championship match with Leicestershire at Barnt Green.

Leach returned to action after a back problem and delivered four overs for 12 runs during his initial spell with the new ball.

He returned after lunch and sent down four more overs for five runs to give him overall figures of 8-2-17-0.

Four Worcestershire players picked up one wicket apiece as Leicestershire closed on 338-4 from 96 overs after being put into bat by captain, Pat Brown.

Ari Karvelas made the first breakthrough with 70 on the board when Sam Wood (41) went for a pull and top edged a catch to keeper Henry Cullen.

Century-maker Vikai Kelley and Nick Welch put on 98 for the second wicket before the latter on 71 drove Jacques Banton to Brown at extra cover.

A further 115 runs were added for the third wicket by Kelley and Sam Bates.

Kelley (101) just had time to complete a 217 ball hundred with 11 fours before he carved Cameron Jones to Banton at backward point.

Brown returned to the attack late in the day to bowl Bates for 67.

He finished with figures of 9-1-47-1, Karvelas 17-4-36-1, Jones 13-2-54-1 and Banton 22-3-87-1.