County's batsmen secure thrilling win
Mon 10 Aug 2015
By Dominic Toner
Leicestershire secured their second LV=County Championship victory of the season by a three-wicket margin following a nerveless batting performance on the final day against Derbyshire.
County started proceedings requiring a further 217 to win with six second innings wickets intact and the platform was set by a magnificent partnership between Niall O’Brien (87) and Aadil Ali (42), who batted throughout the first session and put on 118 for the fifth wicket.
Youngster Ali (42) battled tremendously hard for 198 balls in more than four hours at the crease to fend off the Derbyshire bowling attack and that mature approach allowed his partners score quickly.
Valuable knocks were also provided by Andrea Agathangelou (32), Ben Raine (31 not out) and Clint McKay (14 not out) to ensure that the Foxes reached their target of 273 runs.
With Leicestershire resuming in the morning on 56-4 it needed a solid first session and O’Brien and Ali provided it to weather the storm. Ali was very solid in defence while partner O’Brien looked equally assured and provided several offensive shots to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
The pair reached a 50-run partnership and continued to keep the Foxes chase alive with some really sensible batting. O’Brien then brought up his second 50 of the match in 77 balls with a shot that raced to the boundary.
The visitors tried five different bowlers in the morning to try to break the dangerous partnership that was building but a real gutsy effort from O’Brien (65) and Ali (20) ensured the Foxes went in on 142-4 at lunch with 131 runs needed to win the match.
After lunch the Foxes batsman continued in the same way with sensible batting and brought up their 100 partnership, although there was still plenty more work to do.
Mark Footitt broke the stand when O’Brien (87) was trapped lbw and had to depart after a fantastic knock, which gave his side a fighting chance.
The new man in Agathangelou was very positive at the crease, whilst Ali continued his exemplary defensive performance in support.
Agathangelou edged a ball with some considerable bounce from Ben Cotton when on 18 but it just landed safe from the fielder at gully. That meant he could continue to play his shots including some beautiful fours that were struck to various parts of the ground.
Despite his constant accuracy in defence, Ali found the time to smash Dilshan for six over long-on to the delight of the crowd.
The sixth lbw of the innings from Tony Palladino (17-5-32-3) accounted for Agathangelou (32) and left the Foxes 222-6 with 51 runs still needed.
With just 35 runs needed the brave innings from Ali was over as the new ball worked a treat for Cotton, breaking his defences with a yorker that hit the stumps. Ali had lasted almost 200 deliveries to help anchor the Foxes innings and Raine and McKay (14 not out), who have bowled so well this season, were now required with the bat.
They were well up for that challenge and found the boundary on several occasions in sharing a vital unbroken stand of 35. Raine then picked up the winning single through the leg-side to secure a 22-point win for Leicestershire that represented a real team effort.
