Ackermann posts unbeaten half-century

SCORE | Day 2 of 4, Specsavers County Championship: Leicestershire CCC 112 for 2 (39 overs) v Sussex CCC 438 for 8 declared

SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo

REACTION | Colin Ackermann spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae at stumps

HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season

REPORT | After yesterday's even contest between leather and willow, the batsmen took the honours on day two of the Specsavers County Championship game between Leicestershire CCC and Sussex CCC.

The two sides accumulated 296 runs for the total loss of three wickets on another generally pleasant day at the Fischer County Ground.

Sussex CCC resumed at 254 for 7 and progressed to 438 for 8 declared as Michael Burgess made an excellent century. The Foxes replied with 112 for 2 after 39 overs of their first innings with Colin Ackermann (61*) and captain Michael Carberry (32) top-scoring.

Eighth wicket pair Burgess and Ishant Sharma batted through the morning session without being parted as Sussex extended their first innings past 350.

India international Sharma registered a maiden first-class half-century as he and Burgess made steady progress on a very good pitch in bright sunshine.

Burgess was first to his 50, twice hitting over mid-wicket for six as he sought to accelerate the scoring rate. Sharma, who has played 81 Tests and 80 ODIs for his country, had a good contest with Muhammad Abbas.

The Pakistan international asked plenty of questions, including an appeal of leg before against Sharma on 34, but the partnership went on to reach three figures.

There was some joy after the interval for the Foxes when Sharma (66) lofted the off-spin of Ateeq Javid to Gavin Griffiths at long-off. It brought an end to the 153-run stand and was deserved reward for Javid, who claimed his maiden wicket for the club.

Burgess continued to play well. He shared another stand, this time with David Wiese, who scored a century at Warwickshire last week. The batsman progressed to three figures off 146 deliveries and his landmark contained five fours and a brace of maximums.

The declaration promptly followed from Ben Brown but only 18 balls were possible before rain started to fall. Umpires Alex Wharf and Paul Baldwin decided to take an early tea.

Play was able to resume at 4.30pm with eight overs lost. They will be added on to tomorrow’s play with the close extended by half an hour.

County still had a further 36 overs to get through until close in testing conditions. There was plenty of cloud cover in the early exchanges and the floodlights were on for a period.

The first wicket fell with the score on 7 as Paul Horton was trapped leg before wicket by Sharma before Carberry and Ackermann joined forces.

Both batsmen played some good strokes, including an imperious pull for four by Carberry off Sharma. The stand of 66 was ended two deliveries later when the tall seamer moved one back to pin the left-hander in front of the stumps.

Ackermann was determined to be positive against the leg-spin of Will Beer and unfurled a couple of fine drives through extra cover.

The No.3 progressed to 50 from 110 balls with his seventh boundary, a lofted drive over mid-on, while Mark Cosgrove offered good support in closing on 12 not out.

TEAM | Carberry (capt), Horton, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Javid, Dexter, Hill (wk), Raine, Parkinson, Griffiths, Abbas.

FIGURES | Abbas 32-10-61-2, Griffiths 28-8-69-0, Raine 32-6-104-3, Dexter 16-5-63-1, Parkinson 24-4-81-1, Javid 13-0-43-1.

PHOTO | Thanks to Harry Josephs for the photo of Colin Ackermann batting.

* Admission to the third day's play against Sussex CCC costs £12 for adults and £2 for under 16s. You can also follow the Foxes at the Fischer County Ground throughout the 2018 season by becoming a Member of the club. For further details on the advantages of joining us, please follow the link HERE