Jefferson shines for County

Date: Thursday 15 April 2010

Leicestershire wrestled back the initiative against fellow pacesetters Derbyshire after an absorbing opening day of the LV=County Championship game at the County Ground.

After Derbyshire fought back to dismiss County for 279, Matthew Hoggard claimed the key wicket of opposite number Chris Rogers and Nathan Buck also struck as the hosts closed on 40-2 in reply.

Will Jefferson and Tom New led the way with the bat for Leicestershire. The opener fell just six shy of a deserved century and New passed fifty for the second consecutive game.

While Jefferson and Paul Nixon (39) were sharing a 104-run stand for the second wicket, things were looking very rosy for the team. However, the hosts regrouped impressively and County lost nine wickets for 166.

That comeback was negated by good work from Leicestershire’s seam attack, whose early inroads ensured things ended on a high. Wayne Madsen and Garry Park were the unbeaten men at the close to leave matters delicately poised.

Fortunes fluctuated throughout. When batsmen got in, they looked in, but when one batsman fell, things were far less comfortable and wickets tended to go in clusters.

Batting was always going to be tough on a grey day where the ball seamed around throughout. To add to that fact, the square at Derby has been rotated 45 degrees and it was the first game with the current angle since 1963.

After a pleasant start to the season weather-wise against Northamptonshire, everyone was bought back down to earth on a bitterly cold morning at the new-look County Ground.

It was more like the traditional beginning to the campaign; members and spectators shivering under woolly hats in Antarctic conditions while the players scrambled for hand-warmers.

Rogers invited Leicestershire to have first use of the new set-up and Matthew Boyce was an early casualty in the innings. He fell caught behind from the last ball of the third over; Tim Groenewald found the edge and keeper Lee Goddard did the rest.

It was tough going in overcast conditions but Nixon scored his first boundary with a flick through mid-wicket.

Jefferson also played a fine stroke – a powerful pulled six off the front foot that smashed into the portakabin window that sits on top of the tea room.

The reinforced glass saved the repair men getting a call and the opening batsman also played two elegant drives down the ground.

As well as playing some nice strokes, Jefferson was fortunate to see a couple of shots fly through the vacant cordon. They bought him two boundaries all the same nevertheless.

The duo took their stand past fifty and had negated the early threat. A great drive from Jefferson through extra raced to the fence and a dismissive pull took him within reach of his half-century.

He suffered a nervous moment on 49 when nicking Greg Smith to Madsen at slip but the fielder put it down. It enabled the opener to take a couple and move past 50 from 82 balls. The knock included seven fours and a six at that stage.

Nixon was also going about his business efficiently and a flick off the pads and a pull through mid-wicket both bought him fours off the pacy Mark Footitt.

A fine off-drive from Jefferson off the slow left arm bowling of Robin Peterson was a pleasant way to bring up the 100 and go into lunch. The score was 103-1 at that point.

However, after the morning session belonged to Leicestershire, Derbyshire’s bowlers grasped the nettle after the break. The post-lunch period saw a tally of 128-5, and after tea, County lost their final four wickets for 48.

It started brightly after lunch as Nixon squeezed a drive behind square to get things going again.

That took the partnership past the century mark and Jefferson was soon back into his stride too with a great off-drive.

Unfortunately the second wicket fell in the next over as Nixon became Groenewald’s second victim. The ball seemed to loop off inside edge and pad to the inrushing Dan Redfern at mid-wicket and Leics were now 113-2.

That bought James Taylor to the wicket, which was a photographer’s dream. It gave the first opportunity of the season to snap little and large.

Jefferson played a wonderful square drive as he continued his good work and Taylor also drove elegantly through mid-on.

The youngster fell shortly after though when becoming Steffen Jones struck. Derbyshire were convinced they had their man caught behind by Goddard and Trevor Jesty raised the finger to confirm the matter.

Josh Cobb started with promise; driving through extra and then tucking away a shot through mid-wicket. Jefferson continued to play handsomely through the off-side and also pulled powerfully behind square.

Another fine drive kept things ticking but he lost another partner with the score on 162. Cobb played around a straight one and was trapped lbw by the nippy medium pace of the handy all-rounder Park.

Jefferson continued to go well and played a delicate late cut for four down to third man to move into the nineties.

New provided solid support and a drive down the ground bought him a boundary. A stroke square of the wicket also raced to the ropes.

However, Jefferson fell within one blow of a century in the 50th over of the day. He nicked an excellent Smith ball that nipped away and Goddard took the catch.

New continued on his way with another square drive and he resumed his partnership with Wayne White. The duo played so well in tandem in the first game against Northants and the team again needed resilient batting here.

White took the side to their first bonus point in the 55th over with a tuck through mid-wicket but he was next to go. After attempting to leave the returning Groenewald, he got a thin edge and became Goddard’s fourth victim.

Derbyshire had their tails up and had the opening operators on in Footitt and Groenewald. New was battling hard though and drove nicely through extra for good measure.

Claude Henderson was being peppered by some short stuff from the left armer but responded emphatically by launching into a nice cover drive. He repeated the shot in the next over off Groenewald.

Tea was delayed due to a painful Derbyshire over rate and Peterson’s introduction injected a bit of urgency into the home side.

Henderson stroked through backward point to add another boundary shortly before tea and the team went in on 231-6.

Henderson continued his form with another fine square drive while New also continued to accumulate. The left-hander drove Peterson off the back foot nicely.

After being 204-6, the second bonus point had been gained without further loss. However, a quick double burst changed the picture again.

The stand ended on 46 as Henderson chopped Peterson onto his stumps for a well-compiled 25. Nathan Buck was then trapped leg-before to the slow left armer from his third ball.

New moved to a valuable 77-ball fifty – scoring seven fours in the process – and was aggressive in a counter-attack against the Derbyshire bowlers.

It was an entertaining period and the keeper was doing a sterling job. New struck Peterson over mid-wicket after advancing down the track but just as 300 looked on the cards, the batsman was run out shortly after for 61.

AJ Harris, who was offering useful support, called his partner through for a sharp single after nudging to cover, but Smith threw down the stumps at the batsman’s end. One again bought two as Hoggard was bowled by Smith to wrap the innings up.

Rogers and Madsen opened for Derbyshire and an important phase of the game was coming up; for Leicestershire needed a breakthrough or two.

The battle of the captains was an intriguing one. Rogers scored off the first ball face but Hoggard went on to bowl a great spell at the prolific batsman.

The Australian was unsettled by a ripsnorter that just missed the off-stump and was then caught behind by New from the very next ball.

Hoggard’s new ball partner Buck was getting plenty of movement and he claimed the second wicket shortly afterwards. The teenager enticed Paul Borrington to nick off and Jefferson held a good low catch at second slip.

Madsen and Park battled through and shared an unbroken stand of 31, with the opener playing one fine cover drive for four in the process.

Everything is now set up for an intriguing second day.