Leicester Mercury

Evans in two-year contract extension

OPENER IS LATEST TO TO COMMIT HIS FUTURE TO PAUL NIXON’S SQUAD

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LEICESTERS­HIRE opening batsman Sam Evans has signed a contract extension at Grace Road, keeping him at his home county for a further two years.

The academy graduate becomes the latest player to commit his future to Paul Nixon’s squad ahead of the 2021 season.

The 22-year old made his Championsh­ip debut for County in 2017 against Northampto­nshire and has battled his way into the top of the order.

The truncated 2020 season saw him open the batting alongside fellow Loughborou­gh University graduate Hassan Azad in a fixture against Durham.

He went on to post a composed 85 from 175 balls, including nine fours, in a fixture that saw each side bat once as they tried to force a result in a weather-affected clash.

Evans completed the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy campaign at the top of the order with appearance­s against Nottingham­shire and Yorkshire.

Once again, he shone alongside Azad with a second innings score of 48 against Nottingham­shire after a 93-run third wicket stand alongside captain Colin Ackermann.

The following players have also committed themselves to County:

■ Wicketkeep­er batsman Lewis Hill has extended his stay at the Fischer County Ground by a further year.

A product of the Leicesters­hire academy, Hill made the step up to the first team in 2014 and burst on to the scene with a half-century on debut against Kent followed

He made his Championsh­ip debut for County in 2017 and has battled his way into the top of the order

by 126 at Surrey the game after.

Now a mainstay in the side, Hill is still making strides in his career after 2019 saw him post a List A best of 118 from 62 balls which helped the Foxes on their way to victory over Worcesters­hire Rapids.

Bowler Gavin Griffiths has signed a two-year contract extension.

He joined ahead of the 2017 season and has made 71 appearance­s taking a total of 101 wickets.

His best performanc­e to date was in 2018 at Chester-le-Street where he posted 10 for 83 against Durham.

Academy graduate Nat Bowley has also signed a two-year deal.

The off-break bowler signed his first profession­al contract with Leicesters­hire in January.

Part of the academy and the Leicesters­hire Young Cricketers programmes since the age of 13, he helped the under-17s to their Royal London Cup triumph taking 4-20 from nine overs to help seal back-toback titles for Leicesters­hire.

 ??  ?? ACADEMY GRADUATE: Sam Evans
ACADEMY GRADUATE: Sam Evans

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