Record-breaking Running Foxes versus Middlesex
Tue 1 Jun 2021
It was a record-breaking day at the Uptonsteel County Ground on Sunday, May 30, 2021, and a day where the history books were updated for the Running Foxes.
The UCG played host to yet another five-wicket haul from Chris Wright on Saturday, May 29, and then witnessed two centuries, a record-breaking partnership and one of the highest run chases in the Club’s history.
Heading into the final day of the LV= County Championship clash against Middlesex CCC, Leicestershire County Cricket Club were 75 for one, trailing the visitors by 302 as the Running Foxes searched for their first Championship victory of the season.
Marcus Harris began the final day just nine shy of his half-century on 41, accompanied by opener Sam Evans on 26.
County got off to a tough start, losing the quick wicket of Evans off the bowling of Tom Helm from the first delivery he faced in the day.
Colin Ackermann walked out to join Harris “ now on 49 “ in the middle, and this is where the historic partnership began.
Ackermann came in and steadied the ship superbly, all whilst giving Harris the strike who was looking in supreme touch throughout the day.
Half-centuries came and went for County with Harris’ coming from 83 balls, including nine fours, and the Australian even went on to post his second century for Leicestershire before the skipper reached his first half-century of the season.
Harris’ ton came from 193 balls and included thirteen fours as he edged Martin Andersson away for his thirteenth boundary to bring up the milestone. The partnership’s 100th run also came with Harris’ century.
Exactly two overs later and the skipper brought up his half-century, as he swept Thilan Walallawaita away for his eighth four of the day in 104 balls.
The 150th run of the partnership was next be reached, moments before Harris eclipsed the Running Foxes’ highest individual score of the season, as he brought up his 150.
The 150 came from his nineteenth four of the innings as he drove Ethan Bamber through the covers, with the milestone coming in 250 balls, and included a solitary six to add this his 19 fours.
The 200th run of the partnership came next, with it coming inside 64 overs.
Ackermann’s fifteenth four of the innings then saw the partnership enter the Leicestershire CCC history books, as this was now the record third wicket partnership against Middlesex as the duo of Harris and Ackermann surpassed the duo of the David Gower and Brian Davison.
Gower and Davison’s record of 236* posted at Lord’s against Middlesex lasted 45 years.
The partnership reached 243 coming from a total of 457 deliveries before Harris’ wicket was up for 185 off the bowling of Walallawita.
Three deliveries after the partnership was broken, Ackermann posted his first century of the 2021 LV= County Championship campaign, as he swept Walallawita away once again to earn his sixteenth four from 229 balls.
Ackermann remained at the crease for the Running Foxes, and even hit the winnings runs as Leicestershire claimed their first victory of the season, and in doing so, posted the Club’s third highest successful run chase in County Championship cricket.
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