Batsmen impress at Hove
Mon 2 May 2016
Sussex versus Leicestershire, Specsavers County Championship, Day 2:
SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo HERE
INTERVIEW | An interview with centurion Paul Horton by BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae is available HERE
HIGHLIGHTS | The highlights of the second day’s play are available HERE
REPORT | Paul Horton registered his first Leicestershire century as the team added 160 runs for the loss of two wickets on a truncated second day of the Specsavers County Championship game at Hove.
Although only 43.2 overs of play were possible because of rain and bad light, County cemented their position of strength by progressing to 300-4 in tricky batting conditions replying to Sussex’s 163.
Horton (100) and Mark Cosgrove (80) again gave real presence at the crease in extending their third wicket partnership to 114. It was a second consecutive three-figure stand involving Horton, who added 107 for the second wicket with Neil Dexter yesterday.
Brighton-born Mark Pettini (42 not out) also played well to ensure Leicestershire will take a lead of 137 into day three with six first-innings wickets remaining.
Horton said: “After going past 50 in two of my previous innings it was nice to reach the landmark of my first hundred for my new county.
“I got a start on the first day and although the conditions were quite tough today, with it being overcast and with the lights on, I felt good.
“The bowlers set the game up for us on the first day. To bowl a side as strong as Sussex out for 163 was an amazing effort and as a batting unit it was important for us to back that up.
“There are more batting bonus points up for grabs and we will be looking to extend our lead as much as we can and then hopefully the bowlers can do the business again for us.”
A miserable morning greeted players, officials and spectators and an entire session’s worth of overs were lost. Even when play was able to start at 2.10pm, the floodlights were required because there was still a heavy covering of cloud.
There was a good period between lunch and tea as Leicestershire posted 114 runs for the loss of one wicket in 32 overs to reach 254-3.
County’s captain and vice-captain put in the hard yards to get themselves back in and their reward duly followed.
Cosgrove, who pierced the field with a number of fine strokes through backward point and the covers, progressed to an 86-ball half-century (8x4) in the 56th over bowled by Danny Briggs. A first batting point was recorded before the slow left armer’s over was out and the stand promptly moved to 100.
Opener Horton then reached his chanceless hundred from 167 balls with a 14th four, a cut off Briggs that just had enough on it to beat the fielder. It was a sparkling innings from Horton, capitalising on the fine work of the Leicestershire attack in the first two sessions on the first day.
However, there was a blow as Horton was out two balls later, caught behind down the leg-side by Ben Brown off left arm seamer George Garton after a consultation between umpires Ian Gould and Nigel Llong.
Another alliance was well underway before tea with Cosgrove progressing to 71 and Pettini unbeaten on 18 as a second batting point was recorded.
The lead extended into three figures and Cosgrove looked well-placed to post a second consecutive ton as he sent a superb on-drive to the fence off Garton.
It wasn’t to be as the lively bowler responded impressively, yorking Leicestershire's skipper with the very next delivery to end the stand of 49.
Pettini and Niall O’Brien (7 not out) guided the team to a third batting point in adding an unbroken 30. Unfortunately the light closed in as the new ball was taken and umpires Gould and Llong abandoned the day at 6pm.
