Harris' second successive century spearheads solid day one for County

DAY ONE | Leicestershire CCC 357 for five

SCORECARD | Available HERE

REPORT | Marcus Harris posts his second successive century and claims his 500th 2021 LV= County Championship run on a day dominated by Leicestershire.

Colin Ackermann and Lewis Hill chimed in with useful half-centuries to help County on their way.

The Uptonsteel County Ground hosted its second spectator-populated fixture of the 2021 LV= County Championship campaign as the Running Foxes welcomed table-topping Gloucestershire.

The day began overcast in Leicestershire, but the sun was threatening to break through as Sam Evans and Hassan Azad opened the batting after skipper Colin Ackermann won the toss and opted to bat.

There were no changes to the County XI from the team that were victorious over Middlesex last week, as Head Coach Paul Nixon looked to carry through the momentum gained.

The decision to bat first would have been made with an eye on the forecast over the next four days with no rain due over the course of the fixture. However, there was moisture in the air on the morning of day one though as Azad and Evans made their way out in humid conditions, which the Gloucestershire bowling attack would look to take advantage of early on.

County did lose an early wicket as Azad (4) edged a David Payne delivery to Tom Smith at fourth slip in just the fourth over of the day.

Marcus Harris joined Sam Evans (2*) in the middle with County on 10 for one, as he looked to continue his form from the Middlesex fixture.

The duo rebuilt the Running Foxes’ first innings and went on to post the partnership’s fiftieth run from 101 balls.

The second wicket stand came to an end on 64 though when County were looking increasingly comfortable in the middle.

The wicket to fall was Evans (27), after he turned Glenn Phillips’ delivery straight into the hands of Tom Lace at short leg.

Colin Ackermann came to the crease as the record-breaking partnership against Middlesex linked up once again.

Phillips was looking for a quick second wicket and was certain that he had pinned Ackermann infront from his first delivery to the batsmen, although, umpires Cook and Warren thought otherwise.

Lunch was then brought up for County with Harris (41*) and Ackermann (6*) in the middle with Leicestershire having lost two morning session wickets on 89 for two.

Ackermann came out in the afternoon and assumed the momentum for the Running Foxes as he accompanied Harris who was bearing down on his half-century.

The fifty was soon brought up for the Australian as he clipped Phillips into the leg side for a single “ the half-century came from 105 balls and included six fours.

Phillips then took a huge blow off Ackermann as the Leicestershire captain smashed him back over his head to bring up the first maximum of the game.

The duo were in lovely touch in the middle, and wicket shouts from the Gloucestershire attack were few and far between which allowed the partnership to being to score more freely.

The 150 was soon up for County as Harris turned Tom Smith into the leg side for a single. This was swiftly followed by the partnership’s ton, coming in 173 balls, with Harris on 52 and Ackermann 41.

Skipper Ackermann then joined his teammate on posting his half-century in the innings, as he looked to sweep Phillips away. The fifty came from 98 balls and included five fours and one six.

County’s 200th run was next in line, soon followed by Harris’ second successive century for the Running Foxes.

Harris turned Josh Shaw away down to the fine leg boundary for his fifteenth four in 175 balls “ moments before the Australian posted his century, he picked up his 500th run of the 2021 LV= County Championship campaign, joining Lewis Hill on reaching this milestone for Leicestershire.

Tea then came with the duo still intact on a partnership of 160 with Harris on 118, Ackermann on 57 and County 224 for two.

The partnership only lasted two final session deliveries, though, before Miles Hammond claimed his first wicket of the game by bowling Ackermann for 57.

Lewis Hill emerged to join Harris (118*) in the middle with County on 224 for three.

Hill got off to a quick start, helping the partnership to its rapid fifty partnership which came up in nearly a-run-a-ball 53 deliveries, with the Leicestershire-born man grabbing the initiative with a 25-ball 24.

Harris on the other hand, was building slowly as he approached his second successive 150.

The back-to-back 150’s didn’t come though, as Phillips claimed his second wicket of the innings, pinning the Australian infront for an agonising 148.

Harry Swindells then joined Hill (39*) in the middle with Leicestershire on 299 for four.

Swindells got his innings up and running immediately with a beautifully driven boundary off the bowling of Shaw.

Hill then made his way to his fifth half-century of the season as he nullified any sort of collapse of the Leicestershire batting line-up superbly, alongside Swindells.

The fifty came from 73 balls and included six fours.

County lost one further wicket before the end of the first day, as Hill (56) was bowled by Worrall. Leicestershire were 337 for five as Ben Mike joined Swindells (17*) in the middle.

Stumps then came as Mike (2*) and Swindells (25*) saw County through to the close after a dominant day in the middle for Leicestershire, as the Running Foxes end the day on xxx for five.

FIGURES (1st inns) | Worrall 17-6-45-1, Payne 13-3-33-1, Shaw 13-1-51-0, Higgins 19-3-65-0, Phillips 18-1-73-2, Smith 9-0-31-0, Hammond 7-1-29-1

TEAM | Hassan Azad, Sam Evans, Marcus Harris, Colin Ackermann (C), Lewis Hill, Harry Swindells (wk), Ben Mike, Callum Parkinson, Chris Wright, Ed Barnes, Will Davis.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE CCC | Chris Dent (C), Miles Hammond, Glenn Phillips, Tom Lace, Ian Cockbain, Ryan Higgins, Jonathan Tattersall, Tom Smith, David Payne, Josh Shaw, Daniel Worrall

IMAGES | Thanks to John Mallett of Outside Off for providing the images throughout the game.

MATCH SPONSOR | Thanks to CWA for being our match sponsor.