Excellent Eckersley helps County bank 11 points
Sun 7 Aug 2016
Leicestershire versus Derbyshire, Specsavers County Championship, Day 4:
SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo HERE
INTERVIEW | An interview by Ned Eckersley with BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae is available HERE
HIGHLIGHTS | The highlights of the final day are available HERE
REPORT | Ned Eckersley became the second Leicestershire batsman to score two first-class hundreds in the same match on more than one occasion as the team fought hard to claim 11 points from a Specsavers County Championship draw against Derbyshire.
The landmark has only been achieved 13 times in the club’s history with Maurice Hallam holding the record after marathon efforts in 1959 (210* & 157 vs Glamorgan), 1961 (203* & 143* vs Sussex) and 1965 (107* & 149* vs Worcestershire).
Eckersley has now recorded the last two instances having scored 106 and 119 against Worcestershire at the Fischer County Ground in 2013. Although they were two knocks of the highest order, his efforts in this match were even more laudable.
Coming in at number seven on both occasions with the score at 138-5 and 103-5 respectively, Eckersley made a combined total of 221 runs from 422 deliveries, including 104 today to ensure that no ground was lost on leaders Essex.
The team resumed 127 runs ahead with five second innings remaining but Eckersley’s excellence stretched the advantage to 312 before County declared at 294-9, setting Derbyshire an unlikely 313 to win from a minimum of 38 overs.
Leicestershire came out all guns blazing, reducing the opposition to 43-4 at one point, but ultimately ran out of time, the visitors closing on 104-4 from 30 overs.
The experience of Niall O’Brien and Eckersley had earlier proved crucial as Leicestershire added 74 runs for the loss of a solitary wicket in an intriguing opening session where 35 overs were delivered.
Only three boundaries were scored in a partnership of 76 in 36.1 overs - all by Eckersley - as the duo rotated the strike as a method of soaking up pressure.
A huge moment came in the very first over when O’Brien edged Palladino but Chesney Hughes couldn’t hang on to a juggling effort and ‘keeper Alex Mellor, who had the speed of thought to anticipate that possibility, also saw the ball evade his grasp when diving to his left. It was to prove to be a big moment in the game.
Runs were at a premium in the opening exchanges but crease occupation was the name of the game because County could simply not afford to give Derbyshire any encouragement with the game on a knife edge.
Once in, Eckersley delightfully cut Parkinson away for three across the square before a handsome cover drive and delicate late cut brought boundaries in consecutive overs from Palladino.
Billy Godleman continued to ring the changes in a bid to make the breakthrough, utilising Parkinson and fellow spinner Wayne Madsen in tandem. The skipper also changed the ends of the slow men but the duo recorded a priceless stand of 50 in 24.5 overs.
Eckersley drove the third boundary of the session as Thakor overpitched slightly at the end of the 78th over but the first wicket fell shortly afterwards.
Godleman delayed taking the new ball and it proved to be an inspired decision. O’Brien (35, 116b) had played so watchfully but Parkinson tempted him with some width and an edge landed in the gloves of ‘keeper Mellor, much to the delight of the young spinner.
The new cherry was then claimed and there was an immediate release of pressure as Eckersley produced his third exquisitely driven boundary of the session. He was unbeaten on 43 at lunch with McKay 2 not out, Leicestershire going in 201 to the good at 183-6 off 84 overs.
The afternoon session was just as absorbing; both sides were looking to create a winning position but were rightfully wary of the opposition’s position in the game. A couple of wickets or a handful of loose overs would have changed the complexion.
Derbyshire desperately needed the wicket of Eckersley but also tried to keep the run rate in check, operating with a single slip.
Eckersley immediately cut beyond that fielder to record his fifth boundary. McKay then sent a wonderful drive racing through extra for four before Eckersley brought up a 123-ball 50.
The lead progressed to 232 before a seventh wicket fell, McKay (13) being bowled by Parkinson for the second time in the game.
Eckersley did not allow that to hinder progress, collecting back-to-back boundaries off Tom Milnes in the 94th over before smoking Parkinson to deep mid-wicket.
Ten runs arrived in Madsen’s 15th and final offering, including a cover drive for four from Eckersley that took Leicestershire’s advantage beyond 250.
The batsman also punished a couple of short deliveries when Neil Broom entered the attack before swiftly moving through the 90s.
The New Zealander yorked Raine (13) with the score at 265 before Eckersley moved to another hundred from 170 balls with his 13th boundary. To go alongside the history being made for Leicestershire, Eckersley was also becoming the first batsman to score two hundreds in a Specsavers County Championship Division Two match in 2016.
Eckersley’s innings came to an end upon driving Chesney Hughes to Palladino at deep extra cover but Richard Jones added a quickfire unbeaten 22 off 12 balls, including three consecutive deliveries that went 4, 4, 6, before Mark Cosgrove called time on the innings.
Tea was taken at that stage and two early blows were inflicted. Raine, fresh from a five-for in the first innings, needed just one delivery to claim another wicket as he removed the off stump of Godleman (0).
McKay then had Chesney Hughes (1) caught by Charlie Shreck at mid-on and suddenly Derbyshire were 5-2 after just 13 deliveries of their second innings.
Ben Slater and Madsen came through a tricky period but it was not without incident. Raine was again causing problems by moving the ball both ways and occasionally gaining bounce from the Bennett End while Madsen survived when nicking a snorter from Jones.
A breakthrough came in the next over as Slater went for 24, Shreck striking in his second offering by pinning the batsman in front. The seamer claimed a second wicket in his next over when Broom (1) pushed forward and was caught off bat and pad by Mark Pettini at backward point, leaving Derbyshire at 43-4 in the 18th over.
But Madsen just seems to have a knack of scoring runs against Leicestershire and he went close to recording a sixth half-century in seven innings in this fixture. Madsen was 42 not out when the two teams shook hands, Thakor (31*) having offered valuable support.
Although Leicestershire didn’t quite have enough time on the final day, the performance was a fine response to a third day where Derbyshire had brought themselves back into contention.
County started this round of fixtures 11 points behind Essex and the status quo remained after the leaders drew against Sussex at Colchester, with Leicestershire moving above Worcestershire into third place.
The next Specsavers County Championship challenge comes at Northamptonshire next Saturday (11am start). Leicestershire CCC Members can gain admission to all four days of the match at Wantage Road as part of the reciprocal arrangement in place between the clubs.
Leicestershire's bowling figures: McKay 6-1-32-1, Raine 8-2-16-1, Jones 5-0-10-0, Shreck 7-2-14-2, Eckersley 1-0-5-0, Horton 1-0-8-0, Cosgrove 2-0-14-0.
* Thanks to Ed Melia for today's photograph of Ned Eckersley.
