County draw at Fenner's

Date: Friday 23 April 2010

Jigar Naik and Josh Cobb both made half-centuries as Leicestershire drew the first-class game against Cambridge MCCU at Fenner’s.

Naik made 72 and Cobb scored an unbeaten 55 as County declared their second knock on 285-2 after 62 overs which gave the bowlers two sessions to bowl Cambridge out.

However, the home batsmen dug in on the docile surface to ensure they took a creditable draw out of proceedings. They closed on 116-1 after 45 overs.

The batsmen had an impossible target of 498 so it was all about survival. There was a notable moment for Ben Ackland, who made an unbeaten half-century on his first-class debut.

Leicestershire resumed their innings on 151-0 and Will Jefferson had to retire hurt overnight. That meant Cobb came to the wicket to partner Naik and the pair played nicely.

Naik, who was enjoying a fine match, registered his half-century from 116 balls and hit three fours and a six in the process.

He would have made a fifty in the first innings had a declaration not come into the equation, so it was a good effort to take that form into an unfamiliar role as opener.

Cobb had sat with his pads on for the whole of the final session yesterday but flourished when he got his chance.

The young batsman has had a couple of starts this term without pushing on but looked intent to bat through the session.

The duo took the score past 200, which meant their stand had reached fifty in the process.

However, Frankie Brown’s slow left armers then entered the attack to good effect.

The spinner had suffered a bit last evening as Jefferson and Naik were aggressive but he had his spinning counterpart Naik caught by Craig Park for 72 today.

Naik, who had batted for more than three hours and looked the part in a new position, struck seven fours and a six in a fine 146-ball knock.

Jacques du Toit suffered a massive change in fortune though. After making a sublime 154 in the first dig, the batter fell to his first delivery as Brown trapped the batsman in front.

It bought Tom New to the wicket and while Cobb continued to work hard, the ‘keeper was particularly aggressive.

Thirty-six of his swift unbeaten 44 came in boundaries and he played a number of his trademark strokes both sides of the wicket.

Cobb, meanwhile, reached his first half-century of the season. The two hours at the crease will have been most welcome and the landmark came up from his 83rd ball.

The youngster hit six fours and a maximum in the knock and it was good for the batter to play throughout a full session.

The stand of 80 – Cobb’s second partnership of 50 plus in the innings - came in just 12.3 overs at a healthy rate of 6.4. Leicestershire pulled out at the lunch break, by which time New had scored his runs at more than one per ball.

Cambridge were intent on getting something out of the game though and Ackland ground out a patient innings.

He saw off opening bowlers Nadeem Malik and Sam Cliff and went on to bat until tea. Ackland was unbeaten on 31 from 28 overs in a 93-ball knock that included five fours.

Malik and Cliff strove hard for breakthroughs but it was change bowler Harry Gurney who come on to good effect.

Adam Wheater, who had played impressively in the first innings in making a half-century, made 19 this time before he was caught by substitute fielder Alex Wyatt off the left armer.

It was part of an impressive opening burst from Gurney, who took 1-9 off five overs.

In fact all of the bowlers were economical and Naik did not concede a run from his opening three overs.

Malik returned for a second spell but Ackland and Stephen Gray battled through until tea. They took the score onto 65-1 with Gray unbeaten on 8 from 33 deliveries.

The duo continued to make steady progress after the interval, with the bowlers getting another session of work under their belts.

Cliff, Gurney, Wayne White and Naik all bowled economically but there were to be no further breakthroughs. Cobb also sent down a couple of overs of off-spin but the batsmen could not be shifted.

Ackland reached his fifty from 137 balls in an innings spanning just under three hours at that point. It has a knock of careful accumulation and no doubt a proud moment in the young man’s career.

The batter also added seven boundaries and Gray helped the opener add 83 for the second wicket and was unbeaten on 35 when the teams shook hands. He had hit five fours in the innings.

Although County could not force the win, there will have been lots taken from the game. Batsmen got vital time in the middle and scored useful runs while the bowlers all had good workouts.

For Malik, Cliff and Gurney, it was a welcome return to first-team action. The trio have not had much luck with injuries in recent times but are back to fitness now.

The various spells will have helped build their match fitness as they look to force their way into the reckoning and all bowled impressively.

White also got some overs under his belt and picked up a couple of wickets with excellent deliveries, while Naik took his career-best with the ball while also getting two good scores with the bat.

So, in all, it was a good workout against a spirited Cambridge side. A number of the opposition caught the eye; not least Wheater with the bat and gloves and Peter Turnbull with the ball.

Turnbull bowled with good movement and was accurate, while Robert Woolley did well with both bat and ball.

The crowd saw three good days of cricket at an extremely pleasant setting, where the wicket was excellent and the outfield extremely lush and fast.

Everybody had a good workout and three full days of cricket, which will serve both sides well over the course of their respective seasons.