Cobb and New steer County to win

Date: Monday 12 April 2010

Matthew Hoggard got off to a winning start as Leicestershire captain as his side beat Northamptonshire by six wickets in the LV=County Championship opener at Grace Road.

The final morning was not without drama as the team slipped to 29-4 at one stage, but Josh Cobb (20*) and Tom New (14*) guided the team home with an unbroken 37-run partnership.

It meant County started the 2010 campaign with 22 hard-earned points and there were a number of good individual performances in the success.

Anyone who thought the win would be plain sailing on the last day was in for a nasty surprise though.

If County could have written a script of how they would like things to go, it would have been something like Will Jefferson and Paul Nixon both finishing unbeaten in their late twenties with no scares in a comfy nine-wicket triumph.

Unfortunately, the reality was completely different. Northamptonshire had absolutely nothing to lose and gave it absolutely everything despite facing a dire straits scenario.

David Lucas and Jack Brooks bowled very well and ensured the visitors had four wickets on the board before Leicestershire had reached half their target.

Northants really had their tails up at that point. However, Cobb and New settled things down and they made sure that three days of hard work came to a positive conclusion.

Leicestershire started the day on 14-1, requiring just another 51 runs for victory. Jefferson and Nixon resumed the innings and the left-hander got the board moving with a glanced four.

Northants struck an early blow though when Jefferson was trapped in front by Lucas. The left armer swung one back and trapped the opener in front.

It was the first of three leg-befores in quick succession, and while there was little doubt about Jefferson’s, James Taylor and Nixon were more unfortunate.

Taylor offered no stroke to a Brooks ball which nipped back. Although that means you can be struck outside the line and given out, the ball had an awful lot to do as it made contact with the youngster – and it hit him high up.

It would have needed to do a great deal to hit the stumps and Nixon then also took a tough call. A ball from Brooks undoubtedly kept low and would have hit the wickets - but did it pitch outside the line of leg stump?

That was a good question, but decisions are always easier in hindsight and the umpire had to make a quick judgment call.

It went against Nixon; much to the delight of the fiery Brooks, who celebrated as if he’d won the lottery right in front of the batsman.

Nixon did well not to react to both the decision and the reaction from the young bowler, but this was now a tricky situation for the team at 29-4.

It called for calmness, and after an early scare, the duo of Cobb and New did it nicely.

There was a run out opportunity shortly after New arrived at the crease which could have been disastrous but the duo heeded the warning.

The keeper nudged and ran and called Cobb through for a tight single. The non-striker would have been out by a distance had Brooks threw down the stumps.

Fortunately the throw was wayward. Nevertheless, Brooks was bowling with great aggression and hostility and bowled two absolute snorters to New, who did well not to nick either.

A lovely glance from Cobb settled the nerves and an excellent pick-up stroke from New also flew to the ropes.

It was good counter-attacking from both men; it is easy to get stuck in a rut when chasing a small target. The scenario needed good, positive cricket and the batters provided it.

Cobb played down to long leg for another four and New then pulled powerfully through mid-wicket as the target went into single figures.

Cobb then hit the winning run - much to the delight of his teammates. He played into the legside and an overthrow sealed the deal.

New punched the air and embraced his colleague, with both acknowledging the dressing room. It had been a real team effort in victory and everybody was understandably delighted with how things had gone.

New played a major role with 96 runs in the game, while Wayne White was excellent with both bat and ball and young duo Taylor and Nathan Buck also impressed.

Claude Henderson was outstanding, Matthew Boyce was gutsy and AJ Harris also contributed well throughout.

The challenge now is to improve and build on this success. There will be no getting carried away; Hoggard and Senior Coach Tim Boon will ensure that everybody keeps their feet on the ground ahead of Thursday’s trip to East Midlands rivals Derbyshire.

Still, it was not a bad way to start, eh? :)