Taylor ton helps battling County draw at Southgate

Date: Friday 01 May 2009

Middlesex 493-7d (Strauss 150, Hughes 139, Morgan 114*, White 3-94, Harris 3-105) drew with Leics 258 (New 66, Cobb 60) and (f/o) 400-7d (Taylor 122*, Dippenaar 93, Ackerman 60, Murtagh 5-83)

James Taylor’s brilliant maiden first-class century helped Leicestershire gain an excellent draw against Middlesex at Southgate in the second Championship game of the season.

The 19-year-old’s first Championship hundred could not have come at a better time for the team, who followed up their resilience yesterday with another rearguard action to ensure the result.

There is something about an away trip to Middlesex which seems to bring out the best in County’s youngsters.

Last year it was Josh Cobb who impressed with an unbeaten 148 at Lord’s, and this year it was the turn of his England under-19 colleague Taylor.

Taylor’s hundred came from 161 balls with nine fours, and he was still unbeaten on 122 when the sides shook hands on the draw.

The teenager’s knock was badly needed after Tim Murtagh’s triple burst prior to the new ball put the cat among the pigeons.

County, who passed their initial test yesterday after being forced to follow-on, still had plenty of work to do on the final day to gain any reward from the game.

They started the last day in good shape on 177-2 - but that was still 58 runs behind Middlesex. The task got no easier as Murtagh (5-83) struck quickly and regularly en route to a five-wicket haul.

Firstly, he trapped Boeta Dippenaar lbw when the batsman was agonisingly close to registering his first Leicestershire century.

Dippenaar had played beautifully for 93 - his best score for the club - which was compiled over four hours from 203 balls with 13 fours.

He and HD Ackerman had extended their overnight stand to 115 before the wicket, but one bought two for the home side.

The seamer removed Cobb first ball in the same manner of dismissal as Dippenaar, before bowling Ackerman for an important, patient 60 in his stay at the crease, which last just short of three hours.

It all meant County had slipped from a decent position of 196-2 to a tricky 205-5 with the new cherry to come, but Taylor combined with skipper Paul Nixon for a crucial act of defiance.

The duo negated the home attack, sharing a stubborn stand of 108 along the way.

Nixon was at his pugnacious best, battling through 153 balls over three-and-a-half hours for 31.

Taylor, meanwhile, scored more freely, but also defended with due care and attention. His whole innings spanned just under five hours, and he faced 193 balls while finding the boundary 11 times.

Runs were important, as County were not only frustrating their hosts by not giving away wickets, but also edging into an unassailable lead as the day went on.

When Nixon was dismissed by Dawid Malan, the home side may have sniffed a chance of forcing a win, but there was more resistance to come from Wayne White and Carl Crowe.

White, who has excelled with the bat all season to date, made 19 in a stand of 42 before being caught behind to become Murtagh’s fifth wicket.

Crowe also batted nicely, adding a four-boundary unbeaten 25 in an unbroken partnership of 45 with his young colleague.

County closed their innings on 400-7 with a lead of 165 when a draw was agreed.

The rearguard shows the team has plenty of fight and spirit, which should bode well for the rest of the season.

Points: Middlesex 12, Leics 8.