Cosgrove & Dexter bat beautifully
Tue 26 Apr 2016
Leicestershire versus Kent, Specsavers County Championship, Day 3:
SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo HERE
HIGHLIGHTS | The highlights of the third day’s play are available HERE
LIVE | Ball-by-ball commentary available through the BBC HERE
Mark Cosgrove and Neil Dexter shared an unbroken stand of 159 at a run rate of more than five runs per over as Leicestershire produced another strong performance on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship game against Kent.
Zak Chappell claimed the remaining two wickets as Kent were bowled out for 264 and although County lost two early wickets, Dexter (57 not out) and Cosgrove came together to guide the team to 174-2 on another truncated day.
More than five sessions of play have been lost in this game so Leicestershire will resume the final day 90 runs behind with eight second innings wickets remaining at the Fischer County Ground.
Cosgrove really took the attack to the Kent bowlers and moved from 12 to 99 not out inside 27 overs between lunch and tea, striking 19 boundaries in a busy 106-ball innings.
“I figured it was the best way to stay warm,” smiled the Australian afterwards, who admitted it was the first time he had ever seen snow.
“Seriously though, it’s good to start the season well in front of our own supporters, and I felt in good touch. We want to put ourselves in positions where we’re driving the game, and we’re some way towards doing that.
"If we can keep going maybe we can put them under a bit of pressure tomorrow, but we need some luck with the weather.”
In a match that saw an unusual start on the first day with a handled the ball dismissal, there was another odd opening session with the players thrice leaving the wicket due to snow showers.
Mitch Claydon (24) saw Kent to a third batting point with a few clean hits but Leicestershire picked up their third and final bowling point by dismissing the former Durham left-hander.
Young seamer Chappell collected a maiden wicket at the Fischer County Ground by having the batsman caught by Cosgrove at mid-on and that ensured Leicestershire collected maximum bowling points.
Chappell nearly had a second wicket between the unseasonal conditions when Calum Haggett drove to Dexter but the fielder couldn’t quite hang on in a wide slip position. The young seamer responded impressively, knocking out two of Haggett’s stumps before the over was out to end the visitors’ first innings.
Leicestershire lost an early wicket as Angus Robson (0) was caught at the wicket off Matt Coles and Dexter struck his first delivery for four before the players were again disrupted by snow.
Fellow opener Paul Horton (3) fell after the resumption, Adam Rouse taking his second successive catch as Darren Stevens produced a clever piece of away movement off the seam. It was a 500th wicket for Kent for the former Leicestershire all-rounder, who continues to cause problems around the circuit by shaping the ball both ways.
Kent had their tails up with Leicestershire at 15-2 but Cosgrove and Dexter formed an extremely effective partnership. The captain practically scored at a run a ball while Dexter defended well and picked off the bad delivery when it was sent down.
Cosgrove showed his intent by hitting three beautifully struck cover drives to the fence in a Coles over before lunch, which was taken with the score at 28-2. Dexter was unbeaten on 8 at that stage and the duo continued to play superbly after the break, sharing 146 in just 26.4 overs in the afternoon session.
The skipper unleashed a trio of well-struck drives that raced through mid-wicket and also steered a four down to third man while Dexter looked particularly strong driving through mid-on. The 50-run partnership was registered and Cosgrove then raced to a terrific half-century from 59 balls, including ten boundaries.
Cosgrove struck another quartet of fours, including one that disappeared through the new railings and into a front garden on Milligan Road, as the alliance moved into three figures.
Another milestone was reached as Dexter passed 50 for the first time in Leicestershire colours from the 78th ball received with his eighth four, which was again sent crashing through mid-on.
Spin was introduced for the first time in the game after the partnership passed 150 as Adam Riley came on at the Pavilion End. A fourth snow flurry of the day brought about the tea interval with Leicestershire at 174-2.
Unfortunately the snow turned to heavy rain and no more play was possible, so Cosgrove will need another single in the morning to reach his fifth century for Leicestershire.
Leicestershire bowling figures: McKay 22-4-66-3, Raine 13-4-40-0, Shreck 19-8-54-1, White 10-2-37-2, Chappell 10.5-2-44-2, Dexter 7-2-10-1.
* Thanks to Ed Melia for the photograph of Mark Cosgrove with Andrew McDonald.
