Outstanding Ackermann posts Leicestershire best
Sun 22 Apr 2018
SCORE | Day 3 of 4, Specsavers County Championship: Leicestershire CCC 422 for 9 declared v Sussex CCC 438 for 8 declared and 11 for 0.
SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo
REACTION | Colin Ackermann spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae at stumps
HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season
REPORT | Colin Ackermann recorded a masterful 186 as Leicestershire CCC put pressure on Sussex CCC on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship game at the Fischer County Ground.
On a day where thousands of runners made their way through the streets of London for good causes, Ackermann was the Foxes' marathon man. He batted for over seven hours, faced 350 balls, made his Leicestershire CCC career-best, and was only one run short of his previous first-class highest score.
Ackermann was well backed up by Mark Cosgrove (64), Ben Raine (40) and Neil Dexter (34) as County posted 422 for 9 declared in response to Sussex's 438 for 8.
Michael Carberry called time on the innings to allow Muhammad Abbas and Raine to have six overs before stumps, a period that openers Phil Salt and Luke Wells - who earlier ended with a career-best 4 for 81 - negotiated to put the visitors 27 runs ahead going into the final day.
Resuming with the Leicestershire CCC score at 112-2, neither Ackermann nor Cosgrove appeared particularly troubled, though they were made to work hard for their runs early on by fast bowler Ishant Sharma.
Sussex CCC rotated their seamers from the Bennett End throughout the morning while leg-spinner Will Beer bowled a prolonged spell from the Pavilion End.
The overnight pair began positively and reached their fifty partnership from 81 balls within the first ten minutes of the morning. Without being overly aggressive both Ackermann and Cosgrove reached their century partnership from 173 balls.
Cosgrove moved to 50 from 82 balls (5x4) before Ackermann progressed to a superb 100 from 197 deliveries, reaching the milestone with a 13th four that was punched away through extra cover.
The partnership was worth 141 when it was broken by Wells. The all-rounder enticed Cosgrove into a drive and the left-hander hit the ball back to the leg-spinner. Cosgrove faced 106 balls and hit seven boundaries in his innings.
Ackermann and Ateeq Javid took the score to 222 for 3 at the interval. Although the former posted his highest score for Leicestershire CCC when moving beyond 118 with a four off Wells, the new ball started to cause problems, as it had done throughout the game.
Javid (13) was leg before after stepping across to David Wiese while Ackermann had to fend off a brute of a delivery from Ollie Robinson; the ball somehow evading ‘keeper Ben Brown and going away for a single.
Ackermann reached 150 in the 100th over, coming from 297 balls and including 20 boundaries. He reached the landmark with a one bounce four over mid on off Will Beer. The achievements kept coming for Ackermann, who registered his 6,000th first-class run upon reaching 159.
Dexter helped Ackermann to add 75 for the fifth wicket before edging a delivery from Wells that bounced more than he expected to wicket-keeper Brown.
Lewis Hill was lbw to Wells, before the same bowler ended Ackermann’s brilliant knock from around the wicket. The batsman attempted a reverse sweep but looped a simple catch to Harry Finch at slip as the ball ballooned off bat and pad.
Raine hit two sixes in a brisk 40 before nicking Sharma to Brown and the visiting skipper also took the catch that dismissed Callum Parkinson (4), who attempted to drive beer off the back foot.
Leicestershire CCC captain Carberry made a positive declaration but Sussex CCC held firm to ensure they took all ten second innings wickets into the final day.
TEAM | Carberry (capt), Horton, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Javid, Dexter, Hill (wk), Raine, Parkinson, Griffiths, Abbas.
FIGURES | 1st innings: Abbas 32-10-61-2, Griffiths 28-8-69-0, Raine 32-6-104-3, Dexter 16-5-63-1, Parkinson 24-4-81-1, Javid 13-0-43-1.
2nd innings: Abbas 3-1-3-0, Raine 3-0-7-0.
PHOTO | Thanks to John Mallett for the photo of Colin Ackermann batting.
* Admission to the fourth day's play against Sussex CCC costs £12 for adults and £2 for under 16s. You can also follow the Foxes at the Fischer County Ground throughout the 2018 season by becoming a Member of the club. For further details on the advantages of joining us, please follow the link HERE
