Cool Ackermann clinches last ball win
Sun 9 Jul 2017
NatWest T20 Blast Matchday 1: Lancashire Lightning v Leicestershire Foxes
RESULT | Leicestershire Foxes (2 points) beat Lancashire Lightning by three wickets
REACTION | Colin Ackermann spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Mike McCarthy, the interview is available HERE
REPORT | Colin Ackermann made a nerveless unbeaten 62 as Leicestershire Foxes started their NatWest T20 Blast campaign with an outstanding three-wicket win at Lancashire Lightning.
With two needed off the last ball on a sunny afternoon in Aigburth, Ackermann smashed a mighty six over extra, the second maximum of a 41-ball innings that also included six fours.
England T20 internationals Liam Livingstone (48 off 30 balls) and Jos Buttler (39 off 21) shared 72 in 6.1 overs worth of clean hitting for the hosts but spinner Callum Parkinson (4-0-28-2) dismissed both batsmen in a superb display of slow left arm bowling.
Clint McKay was also in fine form, taking 3-29 with a mixture of seamers and slower deliveries to help restrict the Lightning to 173-9.
It was a fine effort on an outfield that was as fast as it was bobbly given the recent dry weather, and Ackermann then led the chase with a cool innings in the stifling heat at a packed ground.
This was the first T20 match at Liverpool CC since 2009, another game in which Leicestershire Foxes emerged victorious. The Foxes handed debuts in the format to Ackermann, Parkinson, Luke Ronchi, Mathew Pillans and Gavin Griffiths, who was born just up the road in Ormskirk.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the skipper made his mark in the powerplay. McKay started by having Karl Brown (4) caught at the wicket by Ronchi in the first over and then struck twice in successive deliveries at the end of the fifth.
Arron Lilley's hard-hit knock of 30 off 17 balls contained six fours but Ackermann took a fine head-high catch at mid-on to end his stay while Steven Croft (0) was dismissed leg before.
McKay had figures of 3-9 from two overs before Buttler and Livingstone propelled the Lightning score by adding 50 in just 4.2 overs.
Buttler struck the slow left arm of Parkinson and medium pace of Cameron Delport for sixes in the long-off region while Livingstone cleared the ropes at mid-wicket and mid-on.
Runs continued to flow as Buttler hit Griffiths for consecutive ramp strokes over Ronchi's head in the 11th over but the wicket-keeper also survived a half-chance when Parkinson couldn't get underneath a steepler at long-leg.
Wickets proved to be the best form of containment in these ideal batting conditions. Parkinson reacted emphatically by dismissing the dangermen; Buttler fell courtesy of a nicely judged catch by Ackermann at long-off while Livingstone was calmly stumped by Ronchi after one turned considerably to beat the outside edge.
The wickets of Lancashire's biggest hitters were part of an impressive performance from Parkinson, who bowled two overs in the powerplay but managed an overall economy rate of just seven runs per over.
Paceman Pillans trapped Dane Vilas (2) in front inbetween Parkinson's double strike, and Jordan Clark (9) followed Livingstone, superbly held by a tumbling Lewis Hill at long-on from the bowling of Delport. The all-rounder's 1 for 14 off two overs was a useful contribution.
Debutant Danny Lamb did his best to hold the innings together with 22 off 19 balls but he too was caught by Hill, this time at deep square-leg, off Griffiths. The fielder completed a fine afternoon's work by instigating the run out of Tom Bailey (8) off the last ball of the innings.
Ronchi got the chase of 174 off to a flyer by smashing Lilley's first delivery over mid-on for six, and five wides also helped the cause as 14 came from the opening over.
Boundaries continued to be plundered with Delport (19 off 17) striking three down the ground and also pulling behind square while Ronchi (17 off 7) used the pace of the ball and outfield to guide the ball through cover point and fine-leg.
But both openers fell in the space of three deliveries with the score at 42 courtesy of catches by Croft, Delport striking Lamb to mid-on while Ronchi failed to clear cover.
Ackermann and Cosgrove ensured that momentum was not lost with a stand of 61 in 6.1 overs. The right-hander collected four delightfully timed boundaries courtesy of a sweep and three off-drives, while Cosgrove struck three fours and a six as the score moved to 99-2 at halfway.
Cosgrove clouted the first ball of the 11th over mid-off for four but departed for a superb 34 off 21 balls after failing in an attempt to hit over Vilas at long-on, and Ned Eckersley’s entertaining knock of 10 (off 7) was ended when Parry hit the stumps.
Ackermann smoked the slow left armer for six towards the impressive pavilion but lost another couple of partners. Hill (3 off 6) moved across his crease and was lbw to Bailey, and Wells (8 off 9) drilled the impressive Lamb (3 for 30) straight to Lilley at long-on.
Leicestershire's number four kept calm; two consecutive fours struck through fine-leg and cover point respectively moved Ackermann to a 35-ball 50 (6x4, 1x6) and the target was down to 22 off 18 balls.
Number eight Pillans hit Jarvis back over his head for another crucial four and, with 12 needed off seven, the all-rounder then hammered Bailey for a mighty maximum over long-on.
In a dramatic final over, four singles were taken before Ackermann struck straight to mid-wicket and Pillans (14 off 12) was run out trying to regain his ground at the bowler's end, ending an alliance worth 28 in 3.1 overs.
So the Foxes needed two off the last ball and Ackermann more than delivered the goods, hitting a six over extra cover to spark celebrations in the changing room.
Leicestershire Foxes' next NatWest T20 Blast challenge comes against Worcestershire Rapids at New Road on Friday evening (5.30pm start).
TEAM | Ronchi (wk), Delport, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Eckersley, Hill, Wells, Pillans, Parkinson, McKay (capt), Griffiths.
Bowling figures for Leicestershire: McKay 4-0-29-3, Parkinson 4-0-28-2, Pillans 4-0-42-1, Ackermann 1-0-14-0, Griffiths 4-0-38-1, Delport 2-0-17-1, Wells 1-0-7-0.
