Taylor and McDonald combine to form record partnership

Date: Sunday 30 May 2010

James Taylor and Andrew McDonald made huge scores and shared a record fourth wicket partnership in the process as Leicestershire made 464-3 declared on the second day of the LV=County Championship game against Middlesex.

Taylor made an unbeaten 206 and McDonald a career-best 176* as the pair put on an unbroken 360 and demonstrated a fantastic appetite for run-scoring on a day where records tumble. Not content with making centuries, the pair continued to work hard and amassed large tallies.

Their efforts set an all-time Leicestershire record for the fourth wicket, surpassing the 290 shared by current Senior Coach Tim Boon and Peter Willey against Warwickshire in 1984.

It was the first time this season the team had gained full batting points and came just at the right time following the defeat to Glamorgan in midweek. Matthew Hoggard then declared the innings with seven overs of play remaining and in that time the visitors made 19-0.

Taylor, who was one shy of his career-best score of 207* made at the Oval last season, had earlier shared 88 with Matthew Boyce (44) to set the day up. He and McDonald then completely dominated the visiting attack as the team added a staggering 441 runs in the day for the loss of just one wicket.

It was tough going for the visitors from word go. The runs flowed right from the start of play and Middlesex's cause was not helped when former Fox Iain O'Brien could not bowl after lunch after picking up an injury.

Leicestershire had resumed on 23-2 but the weather was much better on the second day and the batting was outstanding. A good opening session set the tone as 130 runs were added for the loss of a solitary wicket.

Boyce started with a nice drive for three through the covers but was fortunate to survive when Tim Murtagh found the edge. Neil Dexter couldn't hold on at second slip.

It was certainly an all-action start to proceedings with O'Brien bowling a wild delivery that went for five wides down the leg side and there were also a couple of no-balls and byes to get the scoreboard moving.

Runs were also coming off the bat and the ball also passed the outside edge on a couple of occasions too. It was vigorous stuff and Boyce played a superb drive through extra as the day continued to go at a fair pace.

Taylor also found the third man boundary and then played a tremendous on drive that raced away. The batsman then found the fine leg boundary with a delicate glance and as well as seeing off the new ball, the pair added runs at a decent lick.

Taylor was dropping the ball nicely into gaps and scampering through and both men imposed their authority as 59 runs came within the opening half an hour. That included a fine straight drive off Pedro Collins when he entered the attack.

Boyce also found the ropes courtesy of a thick inside edge and Taylor played nicely through mid wicket for another four. The hundred came up as Boyce drove high over the cordon.

The partnership had reached 88 when Middlesex made their first breakthrough. Gareth Berg had come on as third change from the Bennett End and he bowled Boyce with a decent yorker to end his stay on 42.

Berg certainly helped to add some control to proceedings from the visitors' perspective with some fine bowling but McDonald broke the shackles with a pleasant drive for three through extra.

A similar shot raced away for four when O'Brien switched to the Pavilion End. The Australian looked in fine fettle and a flick off his pads also raced to the ropes as he settled in.

Dexter came on for a stint to replace O'Brien while Berg continued to strive hard. Taylor then moved to a 76-ball fifty in a knock that included five fours at that stage. His sixth boundary raced back past the bowler and a perfect cover drive also flew across the outfield.

McDonald was also timing the ball well and played through mid wicket as he moved to 20* at lunch. Taylor, meanwhile, had an unbeaten 61 at the break.

The second session also went Leicestershire's way as the undefeated batsmen continued their good work and more than doubled their tally by adding a further 154 runs in the afternoon period.

Taylor started with a four after the break and McDonald also found the ropes with a fine flick off the pads. The stand had now passed fifty and Taylor launched into two sumptuous cover drives as he continued to go well. Another fine drive took him on to 99 and the team past their first batting point.

The runs continued to flow and the century partnership came up. Taylor moved to his century later in Shaun Udal's opening over with a lovely stroke through mid on and it was a fitting way to move to the milestone.

It came from 138 balls and included fifteen fours; so the batter had stuck ten boundaries from moving between 50 and 100.

McDonald continued to go well and a drive helped him close in on fifty and a stroke through mid on took him to the milestone off his 93rd ball. It was his eighth four.

The pair were dominating the visiting attack and Taylor played exquisitely through mid on to underline that point. Udal kept rotating the attack to try to make a breakthrough but the pair were in top form.

Taylor pulled and on drove for boundaries off Udal as the team secured their second bonus point and the 150-run partnership came up shortly afterwards. McDonald hit wide of mid off for another boundary and then cut Dawid Malan for four when the young leggie entered the attack.

The 300 and 200-run stand came up as Taylor hit Sam Robson's leg spin through the on side. At tea, the stand stood at an unbroken 203 and the score was on 307-3. Taylor was unbeaten on 142 and McDonald 86.

Taylor pulled for four upon the resumption and moved to 150 from 217 balls. He hit 21 fours in the process. McDonald then moved to a landmark of his own as he scored his second Leicestershire century with a cut four. It was his 13th in an innings that spanned 158 balls at that stage.

Middlesex opted to immediately take the new ball and Murtagh and Collins were introduced. That did not have the desired effect as McDonald nonchalantly played through mid on and Taylor drove through extra.

The batsman powerfully pulled behind square while McDonald continued to play beautifully straight down the ground. He scored eleven runs in the 83rd over through both mid on and mid off.

That fourth wicket record went and the 400 and 300 stand came up as the milestones kept being reached.

McDonald's 150 came up from 196 balls with nineteen fours and he then moved past his previous best first-class score - which was exactly 150 - with another four. He took just 38 deliveries in going from 100 to 150.

Both men continued to score at will and Taylor moved to his second double century in Leicestershire colours from 267 balls. The innings included 27 fours.

Taylor then played a powerful reverse sweep before the team declared their innings. The pair had added a further 157 runs in the session and it left a horrible little period for the visitors to bat.

Hoggard and Harry Gurney opened the attack and bowled with good pace and movement. They beat the outside edge of Robson and Scott Newman several times but the pair dug in to ensure they closed without loss.

However, it had been a great day for Leicestershire with Taylor and McDonald in outstanding form.