Josh Hull's Epic 97 Keeps Leicestershire in the Fight
Josh Hull, the 22-year-old fast bowler picked to survive a few awkward overs, walked off Trent Bridge to a standing ovation and a total that belonged in someone else’s career.
Ninety-seven. Five hours and 15 minutes. A nightwatchman’s epic that has dragged a relegation-threatened Leicestershire side into a contest they had no right to still be in, and left Nottinghamshire’s title defence under a little more strain than they would have liked.
A title race meets a survival scrap
This is a match with weight at both ends of Division One. Nottinghamshire, the defending champions, are fighting to stay in pole position. Leicestershire, next to bottom, are scrapping for air. By stumps on day three, Notts’ 451-8 declared – built on Jack Haynes’ 159 and Liam Patterson-White’s unbeaten 111 – still towered over Leicestershire’s 250-7. The visitors trail by 201, still 52 short of avoiding the follow-on.
Yet the story of the day was Hull.
A left-hander whose first-class batting record read like a tailender’s afterthought – only three previous scores in double figures, a top score of 35 – suddenly became the immovable object. Sent in late on Thursday as a human shield, he was still there deep into Friday afternoon, then evening, forcing Notts to keep coming again and again.
He faced 247 balls, hit 10 fours and two sixes, and turned what should have been a routine procession into a draining examination of Nottinghamshire’s resolve.
Hull and Ahmed dig in
Notts began the day with Leicestershire 23-2, the ball still hard, the air heavy and helpful. They would have expected early damage. Instead, Hull and Rehan Ahmed quietly changed the mood.
On a morning trimmed by a delayed start, they survived the entire session. No fireworks, just discipline. Their third-wicket stand reached 50 by lunch, built across 21.3 overs of stubborn resistance. Ahmed picked off anything loose with a measured calm, Hull defended with almost startling assurance.
After the interval, Ahmed moved to a neat half-century from 86 balls, with six fours. At the other end, Hull ticked off his own landmarks. He passed the 89 balls he had faced in that unbeaten 35 at Canterbury last summer, then kept going, the longest innings of his career stretching further with every leave and forward press.
The partnership reached 83 in 33 overs before Dillon Pennington, who had already taken both wickets the previous evening, broke through again. Ahmed edged to first slip, gone for 54, and Nottinghamshire finally had a way in.
They did not get much joy from the man they really wanted.
A nightwatchman turns tormentor
Hull’s defiance started to look like something more. Confidence crept in. He slog-swept Liam Patterson-White for a second six. On 44, he was given a life as wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne put down a chance, but Hull barely flinched. Soon after, he on-drove Freddie McCann for a couple to reach fifty from 158 balls.
The reaction told its own story. A sheepish raise of the bat from Hull. Prolonged applause from the Leicestershire balcony – players, coaches, staff, everyone on their feet. A nightwatchman had just become the heartbeat of their survival bid.
He found another ally in Hamza Shaikh. Together they added 94 for the fourth wicket, squeezing more frustration from a Nottinghamshire attack that had expected to dictate, not chase. Olly Stone finally broke that stand, Jack Haynes holding a sharp catch at third slip to remove Shaikh, but Hull kept going.
On 90, Pennington – now armed with the second new ball – could only get his fingertips to a low return chance. It felt like Hull’s day. Not quite. Tired legs, a long vigil, and eventually one straight ball too many. Pennington trapped him in front for 97, ending an innings that had started as a duty and turned into something close to a masterpiece.
Pennington closed with 4-42 from 19 overs, his relentless spells the backbone of Nottinghamshire’s effort.
Nottinghamshire hit by injury, Giles steps up
Notts’ push was hampered by a setback of its own. On an energy-sapping day, Brett Hutton’s injury forced a change at tea. On came 20-year-old Tom Giles for his first-class debut, a whippy right-armer suddenly thrust into a high-pressure situation.
He looked anything but overawed.
Giles had Nick Kelly dropped at second slip, then went round the wicket and kissed the top of off stump as the New Zealander shouldered arms. A proper first wicket. He followed it by trapping Stephen Eskinazi leg before, finishing with 2-26 from 11 overs and giving Nottinghamshire a much-needed late lift.
Even with those strikes, Leicestershire closed on 250-7, still with “much to do”, but still alive.
Table pressure rising
Elsewhere, Somerset and Warwickshire both won by an innings, results that have nudged Nottinghamshire down to third as things stand. Surrey’s win over Yorkshire has tightened the noose on Leicestershire near the bottom.
So the equation for the final day is clear enough. Notts need quick wickets in the morning, a follow-on enforced, and then a second demolition to keep their title defence on track. Leicestershire must first drag themselves past the follow-on mark, then find another wave of resistance.
Hull has already played the innings of his life to give them that chance.
The question now is whether anyone in that dressing room can match his resolve when it matters most.
