Ackermann and Klein shine for Foxes

Leicestershire versus Kent, Specsavers County Championship, Day 3:

SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo HERE 

INTERVIEW | Dieter Klein spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae at stumps, the interview is available HERE

HIGHLIGHTS | The highlights of the third day are available HERE

REPORT | Colin Ackermann and Dieter Klein led an excellent all-round Leicestershire display on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship game against Kent at the Fischer County Ground.

Number three Ackermann top-scored with 89 and there were good contributions throughout the first innings, including a career-best 66 for Clint McKay, as Leicestershire recorded maximum batting points in posting 420.

Klein struck 23 off 10 balls as Leicestershire added 142 for the final three wickets and then took 4-48 as Kent closed at 193-5. The visitors were grateful for a typically hard-hit unbeaten half-century from Darren Stevens, who led a recovery from 101-4.

The positive performance was part of a great day for cricket in Leicester. The ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s World Cup came to the ground as well as visiting Kibworth CC and Leicester Caribbean CC as part of the ICC Nissan Trophy Tour.

Leicestershire resumed at 129-2 off 47.3 overs and unbeaten batsmen Ackermann and Mark Cosgrove immediately settled to the task.

Ackermann used the pace to score boundaries down to third man and fine-leg while Cosgrove launched into a couple of cover drives that reached the longest part of the boundary in next to no time before a pleasant clip through mid-wicket brought another four.

The alliance passed 50 before a nice moment arrived for Ackermann, who posted his first half-century for the club from 120 balls with a seventh four, expertly cut down to third man.

Ackermann and Cosgrove each thrashed wide deliveries behind square on the off-side before the left-hander guided fours to third man and fine-leg in the 64th over of the innings bowled by Coles.

Leading wicket-taker Stevens was introduced 75 minutes into the session and struck in his second over, rapping Cosgrove (39) on the pads to claim a second lbw verdict of the innings. It ended what proved to be an innings-high stand of 76.

Ned Eckersley joined Ackermann, the batsman marking his arrival with a stylish drive through the covers.

Sam Northeast introduced the off-spin of James Tredwell for the 70th over but Ackermann didn’t let him settle. After having a look at two deliveries, the batsman took ten runs off the next two balls by striking a six over mid-on before piercing the covers.

The maximum recorded a first batting point while Eckersley, who scored 33 as part of the fourth successive partnership to yield 50, struck Tredwell for a trio of fours before losing his middle stump to the off-spinner shortly before lunch.

County recorded their second batting point prior to the interval but suffered three blows early in the afternoon session. 

Ackermann, whose tenth four came via a top edge over the slips, nicked a good ball from Coles to Daniel Bell-Drummond, deputising behind the wicket. Mark Pettini (8) was then trapped right in front by James Harris before Callum Parkinson (2) drove at Matt Hunn and was caught by substitute Alex Blake at gully with Leicestershire now at 278-7.

Fine batting from Tom Wells, McKay, Klein and Gavin Griffiths then followed as Leicestershire matched the first innings score they posted in the last game against Glamorgan.

All-rounder Wells (46, 38b) struck the ball cleanly, collecting six boundaries by the time Leicestershire posted a third batting point in the 95th over. His fifth four had a helping hand as substitute Calum Haggett dropped a chance at mid-on off Stevens before it ran away to the fence.

Wells and McKay each struck a four in the 98th and 99th over as the alliance moved to 50 but the former perished within a scoring stroke of 50, driving high to Harris at mid-off from the bowling of Hunn. 

Klein (23, 10b) had some fun in helping the team to four batting points, smashing all of the runs in the ninth wicket partnership. He hit five boundaries before also falling to Hunn, caught by sub Blake at deep mid-wicket.

Leicestershire kept going and McKay and Griffiths both posted career-bests as part of the sixth 50+ stand of the innings.

McKay clouted three fours and a six off consecutive deliveries from Hunn at one stage. McKay’s second maximum moved the batsman to a hard-hit 50 from 49 balls (7x4, 2x6) and he struck a further six before being run out by a direct hit from Joe Denly. Griffiths, who offered stout support, scored 12 not out.

County built on their momentum with an early wicket, Sean Dickson (0) leg before to a full swinging delivery from Klein. Joe Denly (10) picked up a brace of boundaries off Klein in the fifth over, but the left arm seamer gained revenge at the start of the seventh, removing the number three batsman’s off stump with a perfect yorker.

Kent were at 25-2 with key duo Bell-Drummond and Northeast were now paired at the wicket and played some enterprising strokes among watchful defence. The duo rode their luck at times, as Leicestershire beat the bat on several occasions, with Griffiths particularly unfortunate.

The two batsmen took their alliance beyond 50 inside 13 overs but a change in bowling worked a treat as Wells pinned Bell-Drummond (35) in front, Leicestershire claiming their first bowling point.  

Northeast collected his fourth boundary by driving Wells behind square on the off-side before Kent’s 100 came up at the end of the 25th over.

But another inspired piece of captaincy by Cosgrove worked a treat, Klein returning to end his stay at 40 with the first ball of a new spell. Cosgrove played a full role in the dismissal, taking a fine catch at second slip.

Will Gidman latched on to anything overpitched or straying in line and Stevens also gave the ball a hit as seven boundaries arrived in the space of nine legitimate deliveries. Klein put paid to the enterprising alliance of 43 in four overs as Gidman (24, 22b) attempted a drive but succeeded only in nicking to Eckersley.

Stevens struck four boundaries in Parkinson’s opening over and then hit a six over mid-on in the spinner’s next set. Those strokes formed part of a 50 that came off just 30 balls, including nine fours and a maximum, ensuring that Kent ended in a healthier position but still 78 short of avoiding the follow-on.

Bowling figures for Leicestershire: Klein 11-3-48-4, McKay 11-3-28-0, Griffiths 9-1-30-0, Wells 4-0-40-1, Parkinson 3-0-30-0, Cosgrove 1-0-2-0.