Foxes take control on day two at Durham
Sat 5 May 2018
SCORE | Day 2 of 4, Specsavers County Championship: Durham CCC 142 for 7 v Leicestershire CCC 440
SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo
REACTION | Gavin Griffiths spoke to BBC Radio Leicester’s Richard Rae at stumps
HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season
REPORT | Leicestershire CCC dominated with both bat and ball on the second day to take control of the Specsavers County Championship game at a sunny Emirates Riverside.
A formidable Foxes first innings score of 440 was based around four individual scores in the seventies and a number of solid partnerships.
Mark Cosgrove (75) and Neil Dexter (70*) added to the considerable efforts of openers Michael Carberry and Paul Horton, who had shared a record opening partnership on day one.
Durham CCC were pinned on the back front from the get-go by former players Varun Aaron and Ben Raine, and Gavin Griffiths built on their fine work by joining Raine on three wickets as the hosts closed at 140 for 7, still 300 in arrears.
Leicestershire CCC resumed in good shape at 301 for 4 but Durham CCC bowled well on the second morning to keep the batsmen honest.
Cosgrove was trapped in front by a full James Weighell delivery to end his 59-run partnership with Lewis Hill (26), who then dragged Barry McCarthy on to leg stump.
County were at 343 for 6 at the end of the 110th over, meaning the team banked three batting points while Durham CCC collected two bowling points. All-rounder Raine (13) helped Dexter to take the score past 350 but was bowled after advancing to off-spinner Will Smith.
The Foxes needed to take stock after losing 3 for 42 and an important stand developed between Dexter and Parkinson, who both drove the ball impressively in sharing an unbroken 33 before the interval.
It was extended to 51 after the break as Dexter posted his half-century from 96 balls (7x4) but Leicestershire CCC lost their eighth wicket as Parkinson (19) pulled Rushworth to Aiden Markram, who ran in from deep mid-wicket to take a diving catch.
Dexter added 34 for the last two wickets with Griffiths (6) and Aaron (8), the last two batsmen falling to the spin of Cameron Steel and Markram, caught behind and leg before wicket respectively.
It was the third time in succession that Leicestershire CCC has recorded a strong first innings score following efforts of 422 for 9 declared and 381 against Sussex CCC and Derbyshire CCC respectively.
Aaron and Raine then gave the Foxes the perfect start, disturbing the stumps of the top three to leave their former county in deep trouble.
Steel (0) offered no shot and saw an Aaron delivery nip back to hit the wicket while Raine produced an absolute jaffa that kissed the pitch, beat a forward defensive stroke from Markram (0), and clipped the top of off. Smith (4) then suffered a similar fate to Steel, opting to leave a ball that ended up on the stumps - although this time it took a thick inside edge.
Their position worsened as Raine pinned captain Paul Collingwood (0) in front of the stumps and although Graham Clark and Michael Richardson regrouped, Griffiths had a quick double strike. The seamer yorked Richardson (17) and Poynter (0) to bank the second bowling point and leave the score at 51 for 6.
Clark, who would go on to record a half-century in the last over, found a stubborn partner in Weighell as the duo shared 61 in 18.5 overs. But Griffiths returned to end the resistance as he moved one back from around the wicket to bowl the left-handed Weighell (29). It capped a terrific day for the Foxes.
TEAM | Carberry (capt), Horton, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Eckersley (wk), Dexter, Hill, Raine, Parkinson, Griffiths, Aaron.
FIGURES | Aaron 13-1-54-1, Raine 11-3-29-3, Griffiths 10-3-26-3, Dexter 3-2-4-0, Parkinson 4-0-13-0.
PHOTO | Thanks to John Mallett for the photo of Neil Dexter batting.
* It's been a good start to the season for the Foxes and now is the perfect opportunity to join Team Leicestershire as a Member for the 2018 season. You can sign up for Membership online HERE
