Leicestershire team

By Gary Watton
June 9 2013

The historic debut of fifteen-year-old Yorkshire prodigy Andrew Fisher was spoiled by a spirited Leicestershire team that recovered from 189 for 7 to successfully overcome the Vikings in this one-day engagement at Scarborough. Although Yorkshire defeats in this season's forty-overs circus are now as routinely regular as Sunday dinner on a Sunday, there are a handful of positive crumbs that the white rose can console itself with.

Firstly, it was good for my ego to see that my recent appeal for Jaques or Rashid to be promoted to open the batting has been heeded. Although Jaques didn't hit the heights of his two previous efforts, he did at least share in a decent first-wicket stand of 61 with the in-form Andrew Gale. Tribute must be paid once more to the Yorkshire captain who has the astounding knack of correctly guessing which way the tossed coin will land. If only his team could correctly guess where the boundary is and where the opposition batsman's stumps are located.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Yorkshire compiled a commendable total just in excess of 250 which at least was a competitive score. Leicestershire then added their contribution to the unfolding drama by generously donating seven of their wickets with less than two hundred runs in their bank account. However, having dangled the prospects of a rare one-day victory in front of their guests, the hosts then cruelly proceeded to construct an unbroken eighth wicket stand of over seventy runs!

Oh well. Twas good to see Liam Plunkett chipping in with a half century and a couple of wickets. I would reckon that his esteemed presence is now required in the next County Championship adventure. Meanwhile, Yorkshire had the extreme good sense to throw Joe Sayers into the mix, in the hope that he might find his feet. So it came to pass, as Sayers, liberated from the burden of responsibilty of opening in four-day matches, helped himself to a fifty which can only boost his confidence and remind all us doubters that Joe indeed can still bat!

However, if our batsmen were guilty of anything, it was failing to capitalise on the starts that most of them created. As for our bowlers, they almost nailed Leicestershire, but frustratingly let them off the hook. Before I unleash the scores on y'all, the last word has to be allocated to the debutant, Andrew Fisher. Not content at smashing ten runs off only five deliveries in his maiden innings for the county's first XI, young Andrew then took one wicket and his bowling figures of seven overs for a loss of forty runs stands favourable comparison with some of his more experienced tam-mates. This Fisher lad has a big future. Bravo, sir.

YORKSHIRE versus Leicestershire; 9th June 2013; at Scarborough; YORKSHIRE won the toss.

YORKSHIRE: 258 for 9 [40 overs]

Gale c O'Brien b Naik 44 (82-2)

Jaques b Taylor 19 (61-1)

Lyth c O'Brien b Naik 39 (147-3)

Sayers c Taylor b Thakor 58 (186-4)

Rashid b Taylor 15 (187-5)

Hodd c and b Thakor 3 (197-6)

Plunkett c Buck b Williams 53 (244-8)

Rhodes c O'Brien b Thakor 0 (197-7)

Gibson not out 4

Fisher run out 10 (258-9)

Extras: 13

Thakor 3-39

LEICESTERSHIRE: 260 for 7 [39.1 overs] 

Cobb c Lyth b Rashid 26 (55-2)

O'Brien c Coad b Plunkett 5 (16-1)

Smith c Hodd b Rhodes 58 (117-3) 

Eckersley c Lyth b Rhodes 24 (123-4)

Boyce c Hodd b Plunkett 42 (184-5)

Thornely c Hodd b Gibson 21 (188-6)

Taylor not out 48

Thakor lbw b Fisher 0 (189-7)

Naik not out 22

Extras: 14

LEICESTERSHIRE WIN BY THREE WICKETS