Azad and Ackermann Dominate Second Day

An unbroken century stand between last week’s hero Hassan Azad and skipper Colin Ackermann guided Leicestershire to a strong position at the close of day two in Durham.

Patience in both disciplines was essential for the Running Foxes, on a day which saw Beuran Hendricks pick up his first Leicestershire wickets to bowl the hosts out for 428.

With Durham resuming on 356-6, Leicestershire knew they needed to pick up early wickets. None more so than David Bedingham’s, who was not out overnight on 184.

The Running Foxes managed to strike early. Bedingham added seven runs to his score, before Beuran Hendricks took his maiden Leicestershire wicket - a shrewd caught and bowled to dismiss his fellow South African nine runs shy of a double century.

But that early breakthrough was as good as it got for another 21 overs or so. Former Leicestershire favourite Ben Raine was joined by Matty Potts; the duo put on a relatively untroubled stand of 61 before the latter was eventually trapped in front by Will Davis for a 73-ball 23.

It was a landmark wicket for Davis, with Potts becoming the seamer’s 50^th first-class scalp in a Leicestershire shirt.

Raine passed 50 in the following over, but the disruption of the ninth wicket stand created a domino effect around him.

The debuting Oliver Gibson was run out for a single after a mix up with his established partner. A combination of Nick Welch and Harry Swindells effecting the dismissal. Chris Rushworth became the final man to go, chipping Hendricks to Ackermann at mid off for a duck. Durham 428 all out as lunch fell.

It was an admirable bowling display from Leicestershire’s attack given the circumstances. The pitch became saliently docile after the morning session on day one, compounded by the loss of talisman Chris Wright early in the afternoon session later that day.  

Post-lunch, County began their reply. It was a circumspect approach that took 21 deliveries to get off the mark, before Sam Evans pushed Potts for a single.

The first 10 overs just 14 runs yielded off the first 10 overs. The first 21 overs, just 44 runs “ but such watchfulness helped disarm the threat of the new ball.

After a solid hour and a half’s work, Evans then departed for 16, edging a sharply ascending delivery that surprised the opener. Raine with the breakthrough “ the score on 45.

One brought two. Veteran Chris Rushworth tempted George Rhodes’ outside edge, and, as with Evans, was swiftly caught at second slip by Durham captain Scott Borthwick.

Cautious progress continued as the score ticked over steadily for the remainder of the afternoon session. The Running Foxes took tea on 64-2, with Azad unbeaten on 33 and Ackermann on nine not out.

The opening over after the restart brought a collector’s item, five penalty runs added to the total after the ball hit a fielding helmet behind the stumps.

As the pitch became more benign, Leicestershire cashed in. Ackermann looked assured in his defensive technique and fluent in attack, scoring comfortably off both the front and back foot in good measure.

Azad was equally imperious. Leaving off where he heroically finished against Worcestershire last time out, the left-hander is touching 11 consecutive hours at the crease. An achievement made even more remarkable given he is currently fasting as part of Ramadan.

A trademark Ackermann sweep shot brought up the Running Foxes’ hundred, before Azad went to another hard-earned half-century (161b) shortly after with a glanced single off Trevaskis.

The skipper followed suit four overs later with a single off Raine, before the pair achieved their century partnership in the final over the day.

An unbroken stand added 95 runs to the Running Foxes’ score in the final session, with County closing on 159-2, trailing by 269 runs. Azad (65*) and Ackermann (58*) will both be hoping to convert those starts into big hundreds when play resumes at 11am tomorrow.