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In a thrilling match of the England Domestic One-Day Cup 2024, veteran left-arm spinner Jack Leach showcased his fielding prowess with a remarkable running catch to dismiss Lancashire’s lower-order batter, Mitchell Stanley. The game, held in Taunton on Friday, August 2, saw Somerset secure a convincing eight-wicket victory over Lancashire.
Kasey Aldridge was instrumental in Somerset’s win, claiming six wickets for just 33 runs and limiting Lancashire to 218 runs in 49.1 overs. George Thomas then anchored Somerset’s chase with an unbeaten 106 off 142 balls, leading his team to the target in just 40.5 overs.
Jack Leach took an outstanding catch to dismiss Mitchell Stanley.
On the fifth ball of the 41st over, Mitchell Stanley aimed for a big hit off Kasey Aldridge but mistimed his shot, sending the ball high into the air. Jack Leach sprinted from mid-off and leaped fully extended to make a spectacular catch as his teammates closed in. Stanley, making his List A debut, was dismissed for a duck after facing just six balls.
“JACK LEACH WONDERCATCH! JACK LEACH WONDERCATCH!” Metro Bank One Day Cup wrote.
Jack Leach last represented England in the first Test of the five-match series against India, where the team faced a 4-1 defeat under tough conditions. Since then, the left-arm spinner missed the subsequent four Tests due to injury and was also overlooked for the recent home series against the West Indies.
At 33, Leach has accumulated 126 wickets in 35 Test matches, boasting an average of 34.4 and a strike rate of 68.17. His career includes five five-wicket hauls in innings. The team management has decided to focus on developing young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir as they prepare for the next Ashes series in Australia.
Somerset secured a comfortable victory over Lancashire.
In the match, the visiting team, after losing the toss, was dismissed for a modest total of 218 runs. Chris Green contributed 65 runs from 68 balls, while opener George Bell added 56 runs from 81 balls. Somerset’s seamer Kasey Aldridge delivered a career-best performance, claiming 6 wickets for 33 runs in his 7.1-over spell.
Somerset successfully chased down the target with more than nine overs to spare and with eight wickets remaining. They lost opener Andrew Umeed early, in the second over. George Thomas formed key partnerships with Lewis Goldsworthy, who scored 38, and James Rew, who remained unbeaten on 60, guiding Somerset to victory in their fourth match.
This win marked Somerset’s third victory in four Group A games, with an eight-wicket success over Lancashire at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton. Meanwhile, Lancashire endured their fourth consecutive defeat in the group stage.
