County's batsmen in good form against Kent

Date: Monday 08 June 2009

Day Three: Leics 351-6 (Dippenaar 89, Ackerman 67, New 55*) v Kent

Leicestershire’s batsmen enjoyed an excellent day as play finally was able to commence in the Championship match against Kent.

After two days of complete washout, it was a relief to see the teams get out on the field, and when they did, Boeta Dippenaar (89), HD Ackerman (67) and Tom New (55*) all made half-centuries as County went to stumps on a healthy 351-6.

Earlier, Matthew Boyce (38) and Josh Cobb (46) shared 80 for the first wicket to get proceedings going nicely, and when the young pair fell shortly before lunch, Dippenaar and Ackerman continued their good work.

Kent did manage to launch a fightback to stall County's progress, as Simon Cook claimed three wickets either side of tea to bring the run rate down.

With a number of wides and no-balls sent down during the first two sessions, it was a much-improved performance after tea once the impressive Cook had given his side a foothold in the game.

Ryan McLaren also struck late on to remove Paul Nixon, but the team will be nevertheless delighted with their efforts in posting four batting points so far.

With New still unbeaten at the close alongside Wayne White, County will be hoping to get to their fifth and final point in the morning.

The day began nicely from County’s perspective as Nixon won the toss and elected to bat in a game reduced to just two days because of the elements.

Although Martin Saggers and Robbie Joseph bowled with shape and movement early on, the wicket did not carry vast amounts of pace and Boyce and Cobb settled to their task.

Scoring was not easy initially, but both men used the pace of the ball well in scoring largely behind the wicket in the opening overs.

Then, when the duo settled, Boyce played nicely through the covers and Cobb also looked in good touch in striking the ball straight.

Both picked off boundaries when the opportunity arose, and will be disappointed in falling late in the opening session after being well set.

The pair shared 80 for the first wicket, with the partnership ending when Boyce dragged McLaren onto his stumps.

Cobb fell just minutes before the interval to Justin Kemp. After playing a beautiful drive off the seamer which proved to be the last of his nine fours, the batsman perished to the same stroke after a ball nipped away and caught the edge through to Geraint Jones rather than finding the middle.

County had a solid platform at lunch, and Dippenaar and Ackerman picked up the baton and kept it moving during the afternoon session.

Both looked in fabulous form and put on 131 for the third wicket. Neither batsman allowed the bowlers to settle, with Dippenaar driving the ball well and also picking off anything straight through the leg-side.

Ackerman also played some trademark square and cover drives, and the duo were patient and fluent in equal measure.

Both made half-centuries, with Dippenaar playing a perfect late cut to bring up his landmark from 89 balls with six fours.

Ackerman was quicker to his fifty, as it took the batsman just 60 balls to register the milestone. He found the boundary eight times during those deliveries, including a four through mid-on to bring up the 50.

However, Dippenaar was also in positive mood, and he played two beautiful staright sixes over mid-off from off-spinner James Tredwell shortly after reaching his 50.

Kent were in need of a boost, and Cook provided it with a double-strike before tea.

Firstly, the bowler enticed Ackerman into an uppish drive, which was held by County old-boy Darren Stevens at extra-cover to end a superb knock.

James Taylor then fell to the second ball he faced in the same over - caught behind off Jones - and Kent suddenly had their tails up.

New was in good form to stave off the immediate threat, but Dippenaar was not as free-scoring after tea as the visitors sensed an opportunity to build up pressure.

After racing to 80, the batsman got somewhat stuck in the eighties, with New the aggressor in the stand.

The left-hander played a number of gorgeous cover-drives, including three off consecutive Kemp deliveries after tea.

However, Dippenaar, well in sight of his maiden century for County, fell after the duo had shared 57.

The batsman was unfortunate to lose the strike for a long spell after tea which stalled the momentum he had built up earlier.

When he was facing, Kent’s bowlers were far more parsimonious than in the afternoon session. Eager to break free of the shackles, the batsman was rushed by a shorter ball by Cook, falling on the pull via a good catch by Joe Denly at square-leg.

It was a shame to see the talented player fall short of a deserved first hundred for the team, but County’s Twenty20 captain had seen the team past 300 and played really nicely all the same.

Club captain Nixon joined New at the crease, and it looked as though the pair would see the team through to the close after negating the threat of the new ball.

However, Nixon was adjudged leg-before to a McLaren ball that nipped back to end his stay for 14, and although that was bad news, there was better to come as New moved to his third half-century in five Championship innings from 97 balls with seven fours.

He continued on to 55* at stumps, with White also not out.