Clydesdale Bank 40: Leicestershire prevails in a last ball thriller
Nottinghamshire’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of Clydesdale Bank 40 were dampened by a four-run defeat against Leicestershire’s at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Sunday, 29th August. In a nerve jangling match of Group C played at Trent Bridge, sixth place Leicestershire prevailed in a thrilling last ball 4-run victory over Group’s No 2 Nottinghamshire. Chasing Leicestershire’s competitive 40-overs total of 219 for 7, the hosts were still four runs behind the target at the end of allotted 40 overs with one wicket in hand.
Half centuries struck by James Taylor and Matthew Boyce took the visitors towards a competitive total of 219 for 7 from allotted 40 overs. Boyce top-scored with 60 off 66 looting three muscular boundaries and a lofty six followed by James Taylor’s 58 runs from 70 deliveries that contained three boundaries as well. Wicketkeeper batsman Tom New’s late hitting played a key role in Leicestershire’s last-ball 4-run win. His twenty minutes stay at the crease earned the visiting side pugnacious 33 runs from just 18 balls looting four muscular boundaries and a huge six. Rest of the cast scored below 30. Jacob Ball claimed three scalps conceding at an economy of 4 runs an over in his quota of 8 overs. Ryan Side Bottom, Luke Fletcher and Samit Patel took one wicket apiece.
Nottinghamshire’s skipper Chris Read after winning the toss opted to field first. The visitors, after being put in to bat first, struggled in the beginning against the Nottinghamshire attack. Jacob Ball, well supported by his partners, did not let the Leicestershire’s batting line-up break free for the opening 16 overs and soon had the visitors reeling at 64 for 4.
Openers James Benning and Jacques du Toit shared an opening stand of 19 runs from five overs. Luke Fletcher earned his side first breakthrough in the sixth over, when he sent James Benning back to the pavilion with just 19 on the board. Benning scored 11 runs from 16 balls hitting a boundary as well. Jacques du Toit and Joshua Cobb added 30 runs to the scorecard for the third wicket stand with the bulk coming from opener du Toit. That became 49 for 2, when Jacob ball sacked the fluent opener on the second ball of his successful over. The opener du Toit’s 35-ball innings earned the visitors 25 runs including three lofty boundaries. Two balls later, Joshua Cobb followed du Toit after being bowled by Ball.
Fourth wicket stand between James Taylor and Greg Smith added only 14 runs to the team’s total before the later nicked Ball to the keeper Read behind the stumps. At 64 for 4, Leicestershire was desperate for a big partnership and that’s the time when Taylor and Matthew Boyce took the initiative. Both the players shared a three digit stand for the fifth wicket partnership taking the side to 178 for 4. The partnership was worth 114 when Samit Patel broke it having Boyce trapped leg before. Boyce’s assault was well continued by bludgeoning Tom New. He struck whirlwind 33 off just 18 balls as Leicestershire finished its innings for 219.
Nottinghamshire’s run chase got off to a bad start as the batsmen failed to face Benning with a confidence. On the day when most of the Nottinghamshire batsmen were off-colour, Australian cricketer Adam Voges’ unbeaten 71 were not enough to deny four-run close win of the visitors. Nottinghamshire’s skipper Chris Read tried to support Voges’ assault while eight of the batsmen succumbed for scores below 20 including four single-digit scorers. Leicestershire’s skipper Matthew Hoggard lead the bowling department of his side claiming three wickets followed by James Benning who picked 2 for 29 in his 8 overs spell. Rest of the four bowlers including Herry Gurney, Alex Wyatt, Jigger Naik and Joshua Cobb shared one wicket each.
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