Fantastic Foxes stun Somerset Sabres

The last time Leicestershire Foxes played the Somerset Sabres was the 2011 T20 final, which of course Leicestershire went on to win. That along with both teams being unbeaten in YB40 competition set up a tantalising match today.

Leicestershire won the toss and Josh Cobb put Somerset in to bat.  With glorious sunshine, this was a somewhat surprising decision - especially when Somerset amassed 323 runs from their 40 overs for the loss of 3 wickets.

Somerset's opening pair of captain Marcus Trescothick and Peter Drego put on a partnership of 120 runs in 16 overs.  The signs of a big score were there from the beginning when Trego hit a six in the 4th over and Trescothick did the same in the 6th over. Trescothick was first to his 50 in the 13th over and was closely followed by Trego who reached 50 in the 15th over.  Trescothick was bowled by Rob Taylor for 57 off 45 balls.  His innings included 4 fours and 3 sixes.

Arul Suppiah scored 20 off 18 before being bowled by Cobb.  Trego was then supported by Alviro Petersen. Somerset reached 210 for 3 in the 30th over and you could sense they were ready to really turn the screw.  Trego reached his hundred off 90 balls and included 12 fours and a six.  Trego was eventually caught by Matthew Boyce off the bowling of Nathan Buck for 118 runs.

There was no reprieve for Leicestershire as next in to bat was Jos Buttler.  Buttler's innovative batting with shots all round the ground produced 54 runs from only 25 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes.
Petersen went on to make 63 not out. His partnership with Buttler was unbeaten and consisted of 82 runs as Somerset racked up 323 for 3 from their 40 overs.  Heads were beginning to drop in the field towards the end of that innings as Somerset made 113 off their last 10 overs.

The consensus round the ground in the interval was that the final partnership really hurt Leicestershire and it was just too many runs.  I said to someone myself, "Maybe if Cobb gets a hundred...but it's still too many runs." I'm delighted to say I was right about the century, but wrong about the result.

Leicestershire had to get off to a good start in terms of both not losing wickets and keeping on top of the run rate to get near the target of 324.  So when Cobb hit 2 fours in the first over, more of the same was demanded by the crowd. - and how he delivered!

Cobb reached his 50 off 35 balls with 10 fours in the 9th over. Cobb was ably supported by Greg Smith and Leicestershire reached 112 after 10 overs.  Smith soon reached his 50 too.  It came off 27 balls with 8 fours and a six.

Cobb went on to record back-to-back YB40 centuries as he brought up his ton from only 62 balls. It included 16 fours and a six.  A decent sized crowd were really backing Leicestershire now with almost every run being clapped.  Leicestershire were still going at 10 an over and brought up 200 in the 20th over.

Cobb eventually fell for 130 runs (from 87 balls) with the score on 235 to a good Yorker from former Leicestershire bowler Steve Kirby. Cobb's innings included 20 fours and a six.  Two further quick wickets, Joe Burns (1) and Ned Eckersley (5) meant the game was still in the balance.

Smith went on to record his ton in the 27th over off 68 balls, again with 16 fours and a six just like Cobb.  Matthew Boyce was out for 11 leading to Shiv Thakor to come to the crease.  A run a a ball 18 from Thakor with him hitting the winning runs in the 39th over completed a memorable victory for the Foxes.  Smith finished as the highest scorer, unbeaten on 135 from 109 balls with 18 fours and a six.

Chasing down 324 is not an easy task for anyone, let alone such a young Leicestershire team.  Boyce was the oldest player in the eleven at the grand old age of 27 today.  Batting with maturity applies to most of Leicestershire's batsmen today, and captaincy is obviously suiting Cobb very well. The young team shows great promise in the one-day format.

Let's hope Leicestershire make it 3 wins from 3 when they take on the Unicorns at Wormsley tomorrow.  It's a shame we don't have any bank holidays in June or July, because the two May bank holidays have brought great weather and two great victories for the Foxes.

Foxes off to YB40 Flier

Leicestershire thrashed Gloucestershire by 115 runs to get their YB40 campaign off to a winning start.  Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bowl first. They must have soon regretted that decision as both Leicestershire openers, Niall O'Brien and Josh Cobb, went on to score centuries.

Wicketkeeper O'Brien was first to his hundred.  It came off 79 balls and included 12 fours and a six.  O'Brien was caught for 104 and had taken the score to 193 with Cobb at this point.  Leicestershire reached the 200-run mark in the 27th over.

Josh Cobb reached his hundred from 89 balls and included 8 fours and 3 sixes. Leicestershire kept losing wickets at regular intervals and failed to reach the 300-plus score that many supporters thought was on after the opening stand from O'Brien and Cobb.  Leicestershire made 289 from their 40 overs with Cobb finishing as top scorer with 104.

289 turned out to be plenty as Leicestershire ripped the heart out of Gloucestershire's batting order.  Robbie Williams trapped New Zealander Hamish Marshall lbw in the second over and the Gladiators never recovered. Gloucestershire were reduced to 44 for 5 in the tenth over due to accurate bowling and great fielding. O'Brien took a good diving catch to remove Alex Gidman and there were run-outs from Rob Taylor and Matthew Boyce.  

Cobb returned the best bowling figures of 3 for 34 from his 8 overs to add to his contribution with the bat.  It is easy to forget that Cobb is only 22 years old. He batted with great maturity and captained the team well.  Cobb seems to continue to improve in every match.

Gloucestershire managed to delay the inevitable until the 35th over and were 174 all out. Leicestershire's win was all the more pleasing for two reasons.  Firstly, this match was coming on the back of Leicestershire only yesterday losing a 4-day LVCC to Gloucestershire by nine wickets; and secondly Leicestershire fielded a young team with only two players over 30.

A promising start by Leicestershire in the YB40 on the same day that Leicester City made it to the play offs, and Leicester Tigers won, completed a very successful day for sport in Leicester.