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NCL Div 1 - Bears v Foxes

Friday, August 15 2003

Warwickshire v Leicestershire

When Leics won the toss at Edgbaston, Phil De Freitas decided to bat first, as is the norm for day night cricket in England. He didn't seem too sure about what to do though, and his decision looked rather wrong by the time this match had reached it's conclusion.

After De Freitas himself fell early for just 5, Darren Stevens took a painful looking blow on the collarbone from a short Neil Carter delivery. Stevens tried to stand his ground but the ball didn't get up too high from the middle of a slow pitch and caught him full on the front of his right shoulder. Stevens continued for a few moments but was forced to retire hurt soon after, and was later taken to hospital.

It is thought he will miss the remainder of the 2003 season, a big blow to the Foxes who are fighting for their division one status.

From there, Darren Maddy and Trevor Ward provided a bit of support for Brad Hodge, who made 55, but when Ian Bell came on to bowl his genuine medium pace outswingers the game swung in Warwickshire's direction.

Bell simply put the ball in the right spot over after over. He beat the bat with regularity, getting generous swing off a full length. Ward nicked one behind to Keith Piper standing up to the stumps and then Paul Nixon was adjudged lbw to one which might have been missing leg stump.

Bell bowled right through and also dismissed Jeremy Snape to finish with 3-25.

Mark Wagh then bowled a bit of spin and had Sadler and Drakes caught behind. Piper finished with 6 catches behind the stumps as Leics were restricted to a disappointing 178.

In reply Nick Knight lost his off stump first ball but that was the last cheer for the Foxes. Neil Carter, opening as a pinch hitter, smashed an astonishing 75 from just 37 balls with 7 fours and 6 sixes in his Afridi-esque innings.

Wagh just watched from the non-strikers end, and by the time Carter was dismissed, lbw to Maddy with the score on 94, any pressure on the Bears lineup had been completely removed.

Bell joined Wagh at the crease and played some lovely strokes as he caught up to the senior batsman, and eventually surpassed him to finish on 54* from 65 balls in an unbroken stand of 88 for the third wicket, giving Warwickshire a vital but ultimately very comfortable eight wicket victory, keeping their hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Leics Foxes 178 (BJ Hodge 55) lost to Warks Bears 182-2 (NM Carter 75, IR Bell 54*) by 8 wickets.

Posted by Barrie