Abbas & Raine lead Foxes charge
Wed 29 Aug 2018
SCORE | Day 1 of 4, Specsavers County Championship: Gloucestershire CCC 202 v Leicestershire CCC 11-1
SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo
REACTION | Muhammad Abbas spoke to BBC Radio Leicester’s Richard Rae at stumps
HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season
REPORT | Muhammad Abbas and Ben Raine again showed their class as Leicestershire CCC’s perseverance paid off on the first day of the Specsavers County Championship game in Bristol.
Gloucestershire CCC, who moved to 50 without loss and 191 for four, ultimately posted 202 as Abbas finished with figures of five for 30 from 20.2 overs while Raine took three for 44 from 22.
Today’s considerable efforts means that the new ball duo has now taken a combined 80 competition wickets at a superb average of 19.83.
Gavin Griffiths and Colin Ackermann also chipped in while James Bracey anchored the home side’s effort with an excellent 76 from 190 deliveries. Leicestershire CCC closed at 11 for one with Paul Horton (6*) unbeaten alongside nightwatchman Griffiths (1*).
The day was full of landmarks as Raine moved to 200 first-class wickets while Neil Dexter (150) and Colin Ackermann (100) were making notable first-class appearances.
Both sides made it difficult for one another on an interesting opening day where traditional red ball values - namely attrition, endurance and determination - bore the ripest fruit.
Leicestershire CCC showed two changes to the side that lost against Kent CCC as Dexter returned from a shoulder injury, and Dieter Klein also came into the XI.
Captain Horton decided against a coin toss on an overcast morning that although was chilly to begin with, warmed up as the start time approached.
Patience was displayed by both parties in the first session as Gloucestershire CCC openers Miles Hammond and Chris Dent laid a platform against a disciplined seam attack.
Abbas and Raine asked plenty of questions early on, but Dent and Hammond left and defended the ball well. The captain also pierced a gap at cover on two occasions as the score progressed to 16 without loss after 10 overs.
Extravagant movement from Dieter Klein and Griffiths meant that it was tough at times for ‘keeper Ned Eckersley as well as the batsmen, but when the left arm seamer dropped two deliveries short in the 19th over, Dent pulled to the ropes.
The 50 stand was recorded as Dent collected a brace down to vacant third man, and, at that stage, Gloucestershire CCC looked in good shape.
However, the ball continued to swing, and three batsmen departed on that score to put the Foxes in control.
Dent (28) dragged Griffiths on to his wicket when offering no stroke, while the patient vigil of Hammond (7, 64b) was ended when pushing forward at an Abbas delivery that moved across him, took the edge, and was pouched by Eckersley.
Abbas then produced a sharp short delivery that struck Benny Howell (0) on the arm, before pitching the next one much further up to extract the edge. Ackermann did the rest at second slip.
It meant that the Foxes took a bowling point into lunch with the score at 56 for three, and Abbas nearly made it four in the first over of the afternoon session as Roderick nicked just short of Ackermann.
Bracey scored three boundaries in the 32nd over, including a pair of strokes that were sent racing through extra cover.
Horton changed things around in a bid to break the alliance, including switching Raine to the Pavilion End. Griffiths nearly struck with the score at 93 when Roderick, on 12, nicked to first slip, but the chance dropped agonisingly short.
That was the closest that Leicestershire CCC came in an afternoon session where Bracey and Roderick fought hard for 89 runs in 34 overs.
Their alliance became the second to reach 50 and runs started to arrive a little more freely with both batsmen now set. Dexter, Parkinson and Ackermann were introduced, but the duo went into tea with respective unbeaten scores in the forties as Gloucestershire CCC progressed to 145 for three.
Batting with organisation and application, not to mention some eye-catching cover drives, Bracey recorded 50 from 144 balls (7x4).
With the stand having just reached three figures, Roderick became the fourth wicket to fall as Abbas trapped him right in front.
Abbas nearly claimed a fourth personal victim as Jack Taylor nicked towards second slip, but the low chance did not quite go to hand. To sum up the frustration of the 71st over, another edge, this time from Bracey, scuttled along the floor for four.
Jack Taylor (21) didn’t allow Parkinson to settle, striking a straight six and sending a pair of cuts to the ropes, but he would ultimately fall to spin as Ackermann rapped him on the pad.
It was a priceless time to strike - the new ball was due after one further delivery from Ackermann - and proved to be the turning point.
Raine immediately made it count by trapping both Ryan Higgins (0) and Ryan Charlesworth (2) lbw to move to 200 wickets in the first-class arena.
Abbas then pinned Bracey in front, Raine enticed David Payne (0) to edge behind, before Matt Taylor (0) snicked Abbas to Cosgrove at first slip as the hosts lost their last six wickets for 11 runs.
The Foxes would have been delighted to take maximum bowling points on the first day - but facing a period at the end of the day is never straightforward. Harry Dearden (4) nicked Payne to Hammond, who took a good low catch at third slip in the fifth over.
TEAM | Horton (capt), Dearden, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Dexter, Eckersley (wk), Raine, Parkinson, Klein, Griffiths, Abbas.
FIGURES | Abbas 20.3-11-30-5, Raine 22-9-44-3, Klein 10-4-20-0, Griffiths 16-3-37-1, Parkinson 11-2-32-0, Dexter 5-2-16-0, Ackermann 3-0-3-1.
PHOTO | Thanks to John Mallett for the photo of Muhammad Abbas celebrating a wicket today.
* This Friday sees the stars from the smash hit musical ‘Mamma Mia!’ come together to perform a dazzling concert of ABBA’s sensational music at the Fischer County Ground. There are limited tickets available which can be bought HERE
