Ali and Horton post fifties

Aadil Ali and Paul Horton recorded half-centuries and Mark Pettini came close to the milestone as Leicestershire scored 220-6 from 73.4 overs on the first day of the university game at Loughborough MCCU.

The game is Leicestershire’s first competitive match of 2016 but does not carry first-class status because the students have already played two matches against counties this season – Surrey and Kent.

Both sides named an XI but there is the possibility of other players being involved during the three days. For Leicestershire, debuts were handed to Horton, Pettini and Neil Dexter while Mark Cosgrove was also making his first appearance in 2016 after returning from South Australia.

Loughborough MCCU are captained by Michael Burgess, who will link up with his Leicestershire teammates once his studies are complete. In-form duo Basil Akram and Charlie Lowen also have Foxes connections having played for the Second XI in the past.

Burgess elected to field after winning the toss and Leicestershire’s new opening partnership of Horton and Angus Robson gave the team a solid start.

However, Sam Cook (4-32 from 17.4 overs) gave all of County’s batsmen an examination and the landscape changed once he was brought on to bowl the 12^th over.

Leicestershire lost their first wicket with the score at 26 at the end of Cook’s opening over as Robson (4) was bowled offering no stroke to the lively seamer. Cook accounted for Dexter (1) in his next offering, County’s number three being well held by wicket-keeper Robbie White.

Cook claimed a third wicket before his opening spell was out by having captain Cosgrove (12) caught on the drive at point and County were now 46-3.

Horton stood firm and also found time to unleash a number of impressive drives in progressing to a half-century shortly before lunch. The 94-ball landmark contained eight fours.

The opener was unbeaten on 55 at the interval with fellow new signing Pettini 13 not out as Leicestershire went in on 91-3 after 31 overs.

That partnership was extended to 51 before Cook inflicted a fourth blow in identical fashion to his first strike, Horton (57) shouldering arms to a delivery that came back and disturbed the stumps.

Wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien scored 18 before being caught behind off the left arm seam of Sam Grant before Pettini and Ali added an unbroken 47 in 20 overs before tea as Leicestershire went in at 171-5.

The duo extended their alliance to 67 before Pettini was trapped leg before by off-spinner Nitish Kumar having made a patient 45.

Ali took the attack to Kumar, including a four and six off consecutive deliveries and registered fifty (99 balls, 6x4, 1x6) before hitting the spinner for another maximum.

The young batsman ended undefeated on 58 and Wayne White was 8 not out as the pair shared 29 before rain forced an early finish at the Haslegrave Ground. Play is due to resume at 11am tomorrow morning.

Leicestershire: Horton, Robson, Dexter, Cosgrove (capt), Pettini, Ali, O’Brien (w/k), White, Raine, Chappell, Shreck