Trio fire for County
Wed 8 Apr 2015
Ollie Freckingham, Neil Pinner and Angus Robson were in tremendous form as Leicestershire seized control of the opening first-class game of the season at Cambridge MCCU.
Paceman Freckingham took the first five wickets this morning to end with figures of 5-39 as Cambridge MCCU were bowled out for 140.
Pinner then played magnificently to record 165 not out, his maiden first-class hundred, as County progressed to 339-4 in their second innings to take a huge lead of 502 into the final day.
The number four batsman shared century stands with Robson for the third wicket - the opener falling an agonising two runs short of his second first-class ton - and Tom Wells, who finished on 30 not out.
Freckingham switched to the Gresham Road End this morning to devastating effect. Cambridge MCCU resumed on 64-4 and were soon in further trouble as Freckingham had Henry Ellison (24) caught at the wicket by Niall OÔÇÖBrien with the first legitimate ball of his inspired spell.
Ben Wylie (2), Zain Shahzad (0), Alasdair Pollock (3) and Alex Blofield (2) were also dismissed courtesy of catches in the cordon or behind point as Freckingham claimed the second first-class five-for of his career.
Cambridge MCCU were 89-9 at that stage before a gutsy late rally from number ten Adil Arif (39) and last man Ruari Crichard (11*). They helped add 51 for the 10th wicket before Atif Sheikh finished off the innings.
Bowling figures: Sheikh 10.5-1-48-2, Raine 10-4-17-2, Freckingham 11-2-39-5, Wells 7-3-21-1
Leicestershire did not enforce the follow-on so Robson and Dan Redfern opened the batting again in the second innings.
Redfern (3) was caught by Joe Tetley off Shahzad (17-4-40-2), who was again the most threatening bowler for the home side.  Eckersley (15) was also held by the same fielder, this time off Pollock, to leave Leicestershire on 39-2.
Pinner came to the crease and more than doubled his previous first-class best of 82 as he and Robson shared 141 to take the game away from the students.
Robson hit 12 boundaries in an 82-ball half-century and after the stand reached three figures, Pinner also moved to 50 from 85 balls (4x4, 1x6). The opener was then caught off slow left arm spinner Wylie for 98. 
Tea was taken at that point with the score on 180-3 and Pinner continued his masterclass at the wicket in the final session. He shared 55 with OÔÇÖBrien (18) before the wicket-keeper became ShahzadÔÇÖs second victim, caught by opposite number Andrew Wright behind the stumps.
PinnerÔÇÖs hundred came off 156 balls with eight more boundaries and he went on to post 150 from just 34 further deliveries. His boundary count was 19 fours and a six at that stage and Pinner added another four before the close as Leicestershire extended their lead beyond 500. The alliance with Wells currently stands at 104.
