Steve Leach makes first class debut against Nottinghamshire

By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

Steve Leach, the young Shrewsbury batsman, is currently enjoying his debut in first class cricket for Oxford University in a three-day match against Nottinghamshire due to finish today (Thursday).

The London Road opener was out for nine, trapped lbw by Harry Gurney, on the opening day of the match at The Parks as Oxford were bowled out for 102 in responde to a Notts first innings total of 237 all out.

Leach, the younger brother of Shrewsbury’s Worcestershire all-rounder Joe, held on to a catch to remove Riki Wessels while the Notts side he’s up against also features two former England players in Samit Patel and Chris Read.

Leach top scored for Oxford with 28 as they were well beaten in a friendly by Leicestershire last week.

The 20-year-old batsman was previously attached to Worcestershire but left the New Road club midway through an otherwise successful last season in which he scored heavily to help Shrewsbury win the Birmingham League.

He also weighed in consistently with the bat for Shropshire in the Minor Counties Championship.

Meanwhile, Shrewsbury are one of a number of local cricket clubs taking part in the annual NatWest Cricket Force day on Saturday.

Club members will be sprucing up the London Road ground ahead of the new season from 9am and they would be delighted to welcome anyone keen to lend a hand.