Eckersley's 147 keeps County in the frame
Tue 14 Apr 2015
Ned Eckersley had spoken of the need to be ruthless ahead of the third day’s play in the LV=CC opener and Leicestershire’s number three was as good as his word.
Eckersley knuckled down to equal his first-class career best score of 147 and Angus Robson (82) and Niall O’Brien (70 not out) made half-centuries as County posted a gutsy 435 in reply to Glamorgan’s 513-9 declared.
Charlie Shreck (7-2-10-2) and Tom Wells (3-1-4-1) then claimed three important wickets towards the end of the day to reduce Glamorgan to 47-3 in their second innings.
It means the visitors will take a lead of 125 into the final day with seven wickets remaining so there is all to play for at Grace Road.
Andy Carter and Craig Meschede, who claimed seven wickets between them, bowled superbly early on the third morning. Glamorgan were rewarded with the wicket of Robson, who was bowled by Meschede for 83.
Eckersley and Cosgrove each played a nice stroke through the leg-side to record boundaries to settle the team down. Dean Cosker entered the equation early on and he bowled for most of the day. Cosgrove took the attack to the spinner, using his feet nicely to drive a four down the ground.
Eckersley continued to accumulate in a cultured fashion and recorded a ninth first-class century with his 15th four, a tickle down to fine leg, from the 178th ball received. The stroke also recorded a second batting point and the duo went on to register the 50 partnership.
Both players looked comfortable at the wicket so it was somewhat of a surprise when Cosgrove was out on the stroke of lunch, bowled by one that cut back sharply by David Lloyd.
The score was 296-3 at lunch with Eckersley 119* and Pinner four not out. There was an early blow after the break as Pinner was bowled by Cosker with what proved to be the final delivery before the new ball was taken.
O’Brien’s first boundary was a beautiful cover drive off Carter before Cosker had an over with the new cherry. Duties were then handed to Meschede and Eckersley greeted his introduction by pulling and cutting the fence.
O’Brien played a number of flowing drives as the stand passed 50 and the fourth batting point was banked shortly afterwards. But the return of the lively Meschede caused problems as Eckersley and Wells (0) both edged the seamer to Cosker at second slip within the space of three balls.
County regrouped through O’Brien and Ben Raine and the team went to tea on 399-6 with the duo on 49 and 19 respectively. The 110-over mark had passed by that stage so Leicestershire had collected six bonus points in total.
The wicket-keeper posted his half-century from 91 balls through a sixth four in the over after tea but he lost his last four partners to Carter. Raine was yorked having made a useful 24 and the on-loan Nottinghamshire seamer then wrapped up the innings by having Ollie Freckingham caught in the cordon by the safe hands of Cosker and bowling Shreck (4) and Atif Sheikh (3).
James Kettleborough (13) and Jacques Rudolph (15) put on 33 for the first wicket before Leicestershire had a real purple patch just at the right time. Kettleborough nicked a Shreck away-swinger through to O’Brien, O’Brien took a terrific catch down the leg-side off Wells to dismiss Rudolph while Shreck pinned Bragg (6) in front shortly before stumps.
It ended another good performance from Leicestershire, who will be looking for another couple of quick wickets in the morning to keep the pressure on the opposition.
