Now is the time for a bit of momentum - Nixon

Leicestershire CCC came away from their home fixture with Gloucestershire CCC with a draw and 11 points after Hassan Azad posted back-to-back centuries to see the Foxes over the line.

County posted 487 in the first innings and Gloucestershire CCC were 16 for three at one point in their reply with overseas star Muhammad Abbas causing havoc.

However, the visitors came out and put on a partnership of 318 between Dent and Higgins to claw themselves back into the fixture, responding to Leicestershire CCC’s 487 with a score of 571.

Captain Paul Horton and Azad found themselves in a position similar to that of the Foxes at Aigburth against Lancashire three weeks ago, bat the day out to earn a result, which they successfully did.

Head Coach Paul Nixon spoke after the game. He said: “It is obviously pleasing to score as many hundreds in a game that we have done.

“Posting a big score in the first innings is crucial and there are key parts in the game that you want to win to get over the line, and having Gloucestershire three down for very little you then want to try and put your stamp on the game.

“But, it wasn’t to be. They [Gloucestershire CCC] dug in deep, had a brilliant partnership and took the game away from us.

“I am pleased that we stepped up, but disappointed that we did not bowl as well as we should have done.”

Leicestershire CCC seemed to be in a commanding position as Gloucestershire CCC prepared to reply to the 487 runs posted in the first innings. Gloucestershire CCC, similarly to the Foxes, had one huge partnership which set the tone for their innings and built the foundation for a mammoth reply.

Nixon was disappointed that the Foxes couldn’t make the most of the position they had put themselves in. He said: “Firstly we were disappointed not to get the extra batting bonus point.

“Then we should have posted 500+ which we could not manage, so that was disappointing. If you take the one major partnership out, we were 180 or 190 all out so we have to look at that.”

Azad and Neil Dexter went on to post a record-breaking second wicket partnership against Gloucestershire putting on a stand of 320. Nixon has been asking for meaningful partnerships all season and was delighted with the show that his top order batsmen put on.

He said: “Absolutely, I am thoroughly delighted with the partnership. The way Neil [Dexter] has come back into the side and played so positively – we asked him to step up to the plate and bat at number three which we know he can – that is one of the best innings I have seen in a long time.

“He looked absolutely class. He was in total control and put every bad ball away for four and ticked over beautifully. When they [Gloucestershire] played good balls, he was in good positions and it is just what we needed. Hass [Hassan Azad] just churns away quietly at one end and wears people down.

“We said at the beginning of the season that if Hassan gets runs and faces 200+ balls, then the guys down the order will get runs as well and that is just what is happening. To post a record-breaking partnership as they did is just what we needed.”

The Foxes travel to Wantage Road next week to face a Northamptonshire side that have had a week off from Specsavers County Championship action, and Nixon is looking forward to the test.

He said: “It gives us a lot of confidence to go forward into Northampton. Everybody has been involved in a game and have had some really good performances without stringing it together.

“Now it is about consistency in everything that we do and hopefully we can get over the line and get some big wins.”

On the fixture next week, Nixon said: “It is always a good surface at Northants and generally has a bit more bounce than at the Fischer County Ground.

“There has not been too much sunshine, so we will see how go over the next couple of days.

“The games are coming thick and fast now, and we have had a bit of rain recently. Now is the time for a bit of momentum and consistency is what we are after."