Afzaal runs out of judgement

Nottinghamshire 176 Leicestershire 125-3

If Usman Afzaal is to be given more chances to prove himself as an England batsman ­ which he should if the selectors were being at all serious when they picked him for the first Ashes Test ­ it will not be on the strength of his judgement of a run.

At least, not on the evidence of what happened during yesterday's unfinished match, when Nottinghamshire allowed a potentially decent score to slip away from them, collapsing ultimately under a stampede of run-outs, four in total, in which Afzaal was the prime suspect in three.

On a pitch of not entirely trustworthy bounce, batting in the teeth of a gale and chased off the field by squally showers no fewer than seven times, Nottinghamshire had done pretty well to reach what should have been the half-way point of their innings at 110 for 2 after Leicestershire had put them in.

But after Shahid Afridi, the Pakistani all-rounder registered as Leicestershire's new overseas player only on Monday, had delivered a double blow by removing Paul Johnson and Kevin Pietersen, the most dangerous components of Nottinghamshire's middle order, in quick succession, the innings fell away horribly and at gathering pace. The last five wickets fell for five runs in the space of 18 balls.

Afridi, hurriedly signed after Daniel Marsh suffered a fractured cheekbone last Sunday, was continuing his spell of brisk wrist spin when Afzaal entered his first guilty plea, assuming an apologetic pose as poor Bilal Shafayat, 17 on Tuesday and taking a day off school to play his third senior match, felt his studs anchoring him in no-man's land.

More followed. Although Chris Read had only himself to blame, both Greg Smith and Andrew Harris had cause to direct angry stares at their colleague. Afzaal, perhaps in some subliminal self-sacrifice, was then caught at point on 49, the last man out in only the 41st over.

It left Leicestershire, who have won 13 of their last 15 one-day games, needing a modest 177 for another success. The left-armer Smith promptly reeled off his full 10 overs, claiming three wickets in an excellent spell of swing bowling, including that of Afridi to an edged drive before play finished just before eight o'clock, with the visitors only 52 from victory with 20 overs still left.