Leicestershire Seniors: End of (Competitive) Season Report

Once again, and in a flash, the competitive cricket season is over for all of our six teams, five of whom fell at the first hurdle in the play-off phase. This is naturally a disappointment as there were good reasons for thinking that at least some of them would progress deeper into their respective competitions Alas, it wasn’t to be.

Both of our Over 50s sides were the first to fall. The first XI travelled to Southport to meet a strongly-fancied Lancashire outfit. Well, it turned out that the fears were well-founded when our lads were bundled out for 138 Lancashire knocked off the runs for the loss of one wicket in 34 overs. Meanwhile, at Cropston, the 50s seconds faced the somewhat daunting job of chasing Cheshire’s total of 306 for seven wickets. This can be an eminently achievable task at Cropston, especially in this searing summer where the outfields are like glass. They made a valiant attempt, but the eventual score of 249 all out meant the end of any hope of a semi-final spot.

The Over 70s made the trip to Ipswich to face Suffolk on the back of a resounding win at Bedfordshire. Unfortunately the result went the wrong way, Suffolk winning the tie by eight wickets via the DLS method.

The Over 60s first team had finished the league season at the top of their group thus guaranteeing a home tie against Cornwall at Cropston CC. A disappointing bowling performance allowed the visitors to make 312 for four wickets on yet another belter of a batting surface. The valiant reply of 300 for eight fell only just short but we probably shouldn’t forget that the team won nine out of eleven games throughout the season. The 60s seconds (pictured here) ended their league campaign in 16th position nationally, which meant they scraped into the cup play-offs where they were drawn away to Essex, who had finished at the head of the table. 213 all out represented something of a recovery from 38 for three but in reality was probably never going to be enough. Essex were in some strife at 57 for four but a fifth wicket stand of 107, plus seven dropped or missed catches, pretty much sealed the fate of our lads. The only bright light came from the 60s thirds who conceded 301 for six in the vase quarter-final at Buckinghamshire, and then produced a magnificent chase to end on 305 for six with almost two overs to spare. Sadly, in the semi-final at Worcestershire a week later, we were unable to successfully chase a not-insurmountable 248 for seven and fell a long way short on 141 all out.

Despite not getting as far as we would have liked, this season has seen a number of positive strides being made: several new players have made their representative senior debuts; our 60s thirds have started winning games; a number of high-class and important individual contributions have been made across the age groups; more than 70 fixtures have been played from Yorkshire to Gloucestershire, and Suffolk to Shropshire and, perhaps as important as anything else, it’s been a lot of fun. If you have reached the half-century in age and would like to know more about this movement (which is growing nationally year-on-year, by the way) please get in touch with us at secretary.lrcccs@gmail.com.

Talking of national movements, the seniors cricket organisation has, over recent years, been taking part in walks to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer in men. It has been done on a county-by-county basis and here in Leicestershire we held our walk on Friday 7th August. It was a 7.5 mile trek around the five grounds and sites that have been used by the county cricket club. Starting at Grace Road and stopping off at Aylestone Road (1901-

1944), St Margaret’s Pasture (1700s – 1824), Wharf Street (1825-1860), Victoria Park (c.1860s-1878) and finally back to Grace Road to watch the county take on, and beat, Warwickshire in the Metro Bank 50 over cup. It was a terrific event, brilliantly orchestrated by our Over 70s captain David King, wonderfully supported by Olivia Bryan and the staff at Grace Road, and resulting in well over £5,000 being raised for the cause, which has now exceeded £100,000 nationally. In fact donations are still coming in from all quarters and, typical of the spirit engendered by the event, a golf day was held at Humberstone Heights GC in August where £85 was raised via the ineptitude of some of our ‘golfers’ When he heard of this, the golf club manager willingly and enthusiastically put his hand in the till and topped it up to £100.

And so we look forward to the close-season and a likely second golf day, our AGM, the annual dinner and presentation evening and it all starts again with indoor nets from January. Bring it on, we can’t wait!