Batsmen put County on top

Date: Tuesday 30 June 2009

Day One Report: Leics 341-5 (Allenby 96, Taylor 86*, Ackerman 49) v Derbyshire

A 177-run stand between Jim Allenby and James Taylor put Leicestershire firmly in the driving seat as Leicestershire made an excellent start to the Championship match at Derbyshire.

By stumps, the team had made 341-5, just nine runs shy of a fourth batting point as Allenby (96) and Taylor (86*) dominated proceedings during their fourth-wicket partnership.

County had been 25-2 at one stage, but a 90-run third-wicket stand between skipper Boeta Dippenaar (39) and HD Ackerman (49) got things back on track.

When both fell in quick succession after lunch, though, the scoreboard did not make attractive reading at 116-4.

County have been short on batting points all season, so it was both a joy and relief to see Allenby and Taylor bat so well at the crease.

The only blip was the run out of Allenby when the batsman was agonisingly close to his second Championship century for the club.

The batsman was beaten by a direct hit from ace fielder Garry Park at point, as he threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end.

Former Derby loanee Tom New (24*) helped Taylor add a further 48 runs before the close, to leave County in a healthy position at stumps.

Earlier in the day, County made two changes from the side that drew against Surrey in the last game, with slow left-armer George Walker selected for his first Leicestershire appearance since 2003.

The spinner has been in good form for Norfolk this term, and also took five wickets for the seconds in their draw against Warwickshire last week.

Those performances ensured the Norwich-born twirler was given another opportunity to impress at first-class level, and he came in for fellow left-armer Claude Henderson.

Iain O’Brien replaced the injured Jigar Naik in the team, but both newcomers’ preferred choice of work was to come later as Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field first.

County lost two quick wickets as openers Matthew Boyce and Josh Cobb both fell without reaching double figures, but the experienced duo of Dippenaar and Ackerman combined to good effect for the second successive Championship innings.

The last time the pair batted together in the four-day arena, they put on 314 against Surrey, which was just three runs short of an all-time record third-wicket stand against another county.

And both men did well here too, negating the threat of a home attack buoyed by taking two early wickets with a ball that was moving around sharply. They shared 90 to take the team away from immediate danger.

Cobb was first to go, snared leg-before by left-armer Graham Wagg for eight with the score on 21.

Both Wagg and Nantie Hayward looked lively for the hosts, and when change bowler Ian Hunter bowled Boyce for nine just four runs later, County had made a less-than-ideal start at 25-2.

However, Dippenaar and Ackerman steered the ship into safer waters with some solid defence and attractive strokeplay.

Ackerman’s first eight scoring strokes were all boundaries, and he went to lunch unbeaten on 45.

Dippenaar had moved to 34 with the score on 106-2, but added just four more runs apiece after lunch before Hunter struck twice in quick succession.

Ackerman was first to go for a 67-ball 49, caught behind by Jamie Pipe. Dippenaar was then bowled by the former Durham paceman for 38 and the innings was back in trouble at 116-4.

A stand of substance was needed urgently, and duly provided by Allenby and Taylor.

The pair set up a strong position for the team, with Allenby taking his recent outstanding Twenty20 form into the Championship game.

The all-rounder was aggressive and with Taylor being watchful at the other end, a nice blend was formed at the crease.

Allenby and Taylor shared 105 between the fall of Dippenaar and tea, with the all-rounder unbeaten on 65 at that point.

His fifty came from just 57 balls, and included a pulled six off Wagg in the process.

The batsman had a reprieve on 52 when put down by Steve Stubbings at slip off Greg Smith, and carried on to what looked as though would be his first Championship ton since September 2006.

It wasn’t to be though, as the dead-eyed Park ended the 133-ball knock of 96 as Allenby attempted a sharp single.

The batsman had played so well and deserved to reach three figures, striking 12 fours and the aforementioned six in the innings.

He didn’t quite make it, although Taylor moved closer to his second Championship hundred of the season by stumps.

The batter faced 200 balls by the close in making 86*, with patient accumulation the key to the knock.

With a swift change from Twnety20 to Championship cricket, it was good to see the teenager show his adaptability, and New played a useful foil as the team moved towards full batting points for the second time this season.

That will be the first aim tomorrow, and with the ball swinging around in humid conditions, County will be hopeful to then build with the ball.