Impressive County take charge

Date: Saturday 11 July 2009

Leicestershire 244 (Cobb 95, New 42, Finn 4-76, Murtagh 4-70) lead Middlesex 159 (Malan 67*, O’Brien 6-39) and 76-6 (Allenby 2-1, Harris 2-22) by nine runs.

A dominant display by Leicestershire on day two has put them in a strong position in the Championship match against Middlesex at Grace Road.

The team added 107 runs to their overnight score of 137-6 to finish with a first-innings lead of 85, with Josh Cobb falling just five runs short of a deserved century.

Iain O’Brien, AJ Harris and Harry Gurney also played vital roles with the bat, before taking four wickets between them as Middlesex ended the day on 76-6 in their second dig.

Jim Allenby claimed the other two wickets for the cost of just one run as the seamers made hay, which means Middlesex still trail by nine runs and have only four second-innings wickets to play with.

It was a terrific performance from the side, who took a firm grip of the game after a delicately-poised first day.

After a delayed start, things did not start brightly as Middlesex picked up the valuable wicket of George Walker in the 3.1 overs that were possible before lunch.

The left-hander could only fend off a Tim Murtagh delivery to Eoin Morgan at gully without adding to his overnight tally of five and County were 138-7 at that stage, still 21 away from restoring parity.

However, two crucial partnerships were formed once play started again at 2pm. Firstly between Cobb and O’Brien – who put on 50 – and later by last pair Harris and Gurney, who shared 49 precious runs at the end of the innings.

Under brighter skies after the interval, Cobb continued to play positively and O'Brien also played with intent.

Cobb lofted a super four over mid-on during their stand and hit his third six of the innings with a mighty pull for six over long-leg off Tim Murtagh.

The Kiwi scored four boundaries in his 20, including one cracking cover drive and a pull stroke from under his nose.

The seamer kept plugging away though and got his third wicket when O'Brien played around a straight ball to end the partnership at exactly 50.

It was a bad time for the wicket to fall with the score on 188, as a bonus point and Cobb's hundred were both in sight. Only one of those materialised, and unfortunately for the youngster, it was not his century.

With just two wickets left and having played aggressively throughout, Cobb decided to continue attacking to try to achieve both his personal milestone and the team’s landmark, which was a brave call.

He scored a single and played another fine lofted four over mid-on to move onto 95, but fell looking for another shot over the top.

The youngster hit the ball high into the air towards Billy Godleman at mid-off and the youngster held the steepling catch to give Murtagh a fourth wicket.

It would have been his second first-class century - and a second against Middlesex - but sadly, it wasn't to be and Cobb can be proud of his fine innings nevertheless.

It left County still five runs short of a bonus point, but Harris (13) and Gurney – with a first-class career best score of 24* - guided the team both towards and past it in style.

Harris pulled a four and guided a single down to third man to bring up the 200, and Gurney then played a sumptuous square cut shortly afterwards.

The pair continued to share a critical 49-run stand, which was as entertaining as it was important. Both played sensibly and added the odd lusty blow for good measure.

Visiting skipper Shaun Udal changed tack and removed both Steve Finn and Murtagh, who were both looking for five-fors at that stage.

The off-spinner bough himself and Murali Kartik on for a joint spin threat, but it didn't alter things though as Gurney hit a lovely straight six off Udal before pulling the same bowler for four through mid-wicket.

Udal was forced into another change to halt the charge and this time it was successful. Gareth Berg got one through Harris' defences to end the innings, with a more than useful 85-run lead at that stage.

By the end of the day, part of that lead remained intact, and crucially, County had taken the top six out of the equation.

Nick Compton was first to go, having not received strike until the 16th ball of the innings. He was clean bowled by O’Brien from the first delivery he faced, and County had an ideal start.

Godleman and Owais Shah steadied the ship and ensured Middlesex got to tea on 18-1 after 9 overs, but County’s bowlers were not to be denied after the break.

Harris, who bowled a great opening spell, trapped Godleman leg-before with a ball that swung back beautifully.

The paceman then swapped ends and roared in from the Bennett End, claiming an immediate second reward as Morgan played a loose drive straight to Matthew Boyce at cover.

In all, Harris took 2-22 from nine probing overs, and when Gurney got in on the act by nicking Shah off to Tom New, County were cock-a-hoop with Middlesex at 50-4 and their star man back in the pavilion.

With the ball swinging around, Allenby was always likely to be a threat and he too claimed a wicket from each end as everything Boeta Dippenaar tried came off.

Firstly, the all-rounder trapped the talented Dawid Malan leg-before, and then had ‘keeper David Nash caught by Dippenaar in a short gully position the captain had just moved himself into.

The light closed in at that stage, which meant Middlesex closed still in arrears. There is still plenty of work to do, but County have every right to be delighted with their position and will hope to press home their advantage tomorrow.