Hill and Ackermann Ton Up On Opening Day
Sun 12 Jun 2022
Leicestershire posted their highest score of the season, ending the day on 340 for eight, after being inserted by visitors Nottinghamshire at Uptonsteel County Ground.
Lewis Hill (104) and Colin Ackermann (116) both made superb centuries on a pitch that offered ample assistance to both batsmen and bowlers alike.
On a green top, the Running Foxes lost Hassan Azad (5) in the second over of play. The opener edging James Pattinson behind to Brett Hutton at third slip with the score on five.
Fellow opener Rishi Patel, alongside the ever-versatile Hill, provided obdurate resistance to a probing first hour from Nottinghamshire’s attack.
The former got off the mark second ball, guiding an out-swinger from Pattinson down to the third man boundary for four.
After a circumspect spell, the boundaries started to flow. Successive resplendent off drives to the ropes from Hill’s bat helped take the score past 50, while Patel’s on drive in the following over earned the pair’s 50 alliance.
However, the stand was ended on 58 when Patel (26) edged a Dane Paterson delivery behind to Joe Clarke at first slip.
New man Colin Ackermann followed Hill’s lead, displaying admirable fluency, best exemplified by a gorgeous on drive straight down the ground just eight balls into his stint at the crease.
A quickly scampered three brought up the three-figure mark for Leicestershire, before Hill recorded his first individual landmark. A terrific cut to the fence taking him to a half-century off just 52 deliveries.
Lunch arrived with the total on 129 for two. A free-scoring session despite an early loss and a green-tinged pitch. Hill unbeaten on 61; Ackermann 25 not out.
The duo reached their century stand eight overs after the resumption, with both batsmen showing an assured confidence in defence and attack.
Hill’s individual glory followed. A characteristically quick single brought up his first ton of the season, and at a healthy strike rate too. With 124 balls faced and 15 fours accumulated, it was a T20 like innings that was devoid of T20-like risks.
Ackermann continued to showcase his fluency, earning his 50 with a textbook back foot cut for four.
Nottinghamshire captain Steven Mullaney then adopted the ‘if you want a job done right’ mantra. He brought himself on and bowled Hill for 104 in the 53rd over.
Wiaan Mulder was the next man to go. The South African made 11 before getting the faintest of edges through to Tom Moores when defending a Pattinson delivery.
Tea was taken two overs later with the score on 233 for four.
The Running Foxes’ momentum never wavered. Ackermann and Louis Kimber tallied an assured 50 alliance, before the former brought up an outstanding individual hundred.
Kimber began to accelerate his accumulation, twice driving aesthetically through the off side. However, just as he had recorded the third batting bonus point for Leicestershire, he was bowled through the gate by Liam Patterson-White.
A second quick wicket followed. The new ball accounting for Harry Swindells, bowled by Brett Hutton to leave the side six down with 302 runs on the board.
Ackermann eventually succumbed to Patterson-White, edging behind on 116 to Mullaney at slip. The same combination worked to dismiss home captain Callum Parkinson too “ leaving Leicestershire 340 for eight at stumps “ Ben Mike undefeated on 20.
