Brilliant County enjoy super third day

Date: Thursday 18 June 2009

Leicestershire 165 (New 44, Dippenaar 39, Dernbach 6-47, Jordan 3-54) and 181-2 (Dippenaar 50*, Ackerman 50*, Cobb 40) lead Surrey 329 (Brown 101, Ramprakash 85) by 17 runs, with eight wickets in hand (seven, in effect, with Jigar Naik injured).

Harry Gurney took his maiden first-class five-wicket haul and Boeta Dippenaar and HD Ackerman made unbeaten half-centuries as Leicestershire enjoyed an outstanding third day against Surrey.

Resuming the day 52 runs behind their opponents, County turned things around to dismiss Surrey for 329 and then build a lead of 17 runs by the close with some impressive batting.

The first part of the day was about an outstanding bowling effort, as Surrey were only able to add another 112 runs to their overnight score of 217-2.

It was a remarkable show of character from the side, particularly when you consider only three frontline bowlers were available to captain Dippenaar at the start of the day.

Claude Henderson joined Jigar Naik on the injury list with a damaged spinning finger, so seamers Gurney, AJ Harris and Jim Allenby sent down every over between them in a real spirited effort.

Michael Brown made it through to his century, but all other contributions from Surrey batsmen were brief as the bowlers excelled.

All three seamers were among the wickets, with Gurney claiming four to finish overall with an excellent 5-82, while the hard-working Harris and Allenby took two apiece.

Harris got things off to a good start as Mark Butcher's loose leg-side drive found the safe hands of Josh Cobb for 7.

Usman Afzaal made a brisk and aesthetically-pleasing 29, but he was trapped lbw by Allenby, and his accuracy also accounted for Jonathan Batty, who fell in the same mode of dismissal later in the over.

The impressive Gurney made it three wickets in two overs in the next, when he dismissed Brown shortly after making his century.

The pugnacious batsman made the landmark from his 288th ball, with a clip behind square-leg that became his tenth boundary.

Chances continued to be created, though, and Gurney thought he had Brown with the first ball of the 101st over, but Tom New put down the chance behind the stumps.

The left-armer did not have to wait long for his revenge though, as Brown misjudged a pull stroke and the ball flew down to Henderson at third man just two balls later.

It ended a gritty stay from the batsman, and although he was a tad fortunate at times to survive with his wicket intact, he showed the patience and application required in the middle.

From County’s perspective, it gave a crucial foothold as the main line of defence had perished, and two new men were at the crease.

Wickets continued to fall. Gurney struck again to have Chris Jordan (18) caught behind by New, and the 'keeper claimed his third victim of the innings when Harris found Schofield's edge to end a typically quirky knock of 18.

Hussain chopped on to become Gurney's fourth wicket, and the left-armer completed his five-for shortly after lunch when Stuart Meaker wafted at a wide delivery and became New’s fourth catch.

That rounded off an excellent effort in the field, but lots of work was still to be done with the bat, particularly as the team were one down before the innings got underway with Naik injured.

Matthew Boyce and Cobb laid down a marker with some excellent resilience early on, negating the threat of the ever-dangerous Jade Dernbach and Chris Jordan with strong defence and astute leaving.

As time went on, Cobb played a couple of lovely lofted drives and Boyce also found the cover boundary on a couple of occasions as the pair shared an important 67 for the opening wicket.

Unfortunately for County, Murtaza Hussain struck a crucial blow by trapping Boyce leg-before on the sweep for 29, and the off-spinner tied up an end with some clever bowling.

It allowed the pacemen to have short bursts at the other end, but Dippenaar joined Cobb to ensure the team went to tea just one wicket down.

The duo continued to battle after the interval, but the experienced Hussain claimed a second wicket when Cobb anticipated too much turn and fell to a ball that went straight on.

Butcher held the low catch at slip, and the visitors may have felt they had wrestled the initiative away from County, who still trailed by 74 runs at that point.

However, HD Ackerman joined Dippenaar at the crease to create another stable partnership.

Ackerman did survive an early scare when a diving Jordan couldn't hold onto a catch at second slip when the batsman had scored just eight, but there were few problems after that point.

The pair put on an unbroken 91 by stumps, mixing defence with attack in a masterclass of batting.

Dippenaar was prepared to use his feet to Hussain, lofting him for a six over long-on and a lovely straight four.

He also left the ball well, and with Ackerman looking in good touch from word go, the seeds for a substantial partnership had been laid.

Ackerman timed the ball beautifully, with his first four being cut through backward point.

That was followed up with a near-perfect on-drive to the boundary, and he also played nicely through his trademark cover area.

Dippenaar continued with his array of shots, including a peach of a drive through mid-wicket and some well-timed off-side strokes and glances.

The pair sensibly constructed their fifties, with Ackerman’s coming up first from 72 balls with his eighth four, which flew through point.

Dippenaar’s landmark came from 147 deliveries, and he hit six fours and a maximum along the way.

It meant both ended play on exactly 50*, and County will be hoping the pair can extend their stand in the morning, as although it was an excellent, day, there is plenty of hard graft to come.

Despite all the good work, the lead only stands at 17 runs with a day to go, and County only have seven wickets in hand in effect with Naik unable to bat.

The team will now look to build on this excellent day’s performance, and deserve great credit for bouncing back from a poor opening day in such style against an in-form side.