Dippenaar and Ackerman shine in excellent draw

Final Report: Leicestershire (7 pts) 165 (New 44, Dippenaar 39, Dernbach 6-47, Jordan 3-54) and 487-5dec (Ackerman 180, Dippenaar 143, Cobb 40) drew with Surrey (12 pts) 329 (Brown 101, Ramprakash 85).

A brilliant 314-run third-wicket partnership between Boeta Dippenaar and HD Ackerman ensured Leicestershire gained a satisfying draw from the Championship match with Surrey at Grace Road.

The team had their backs to the wall for the majority of the game and led only by 17 runs at the start of the day.

However, Dippenaar (143) made his first century for the club and Ackerman scored a masterful 180 as the duo took County into safe waters.

The duo had joined forces at 90-2 last night, and by the time Dippenaar departed, the scoreboard read 404-3 as the pair battled admirably through the final day.

Ackerman was first to his century from 121 balls with sixteen fours and bought everyone at Grace Road to their feet when he reached his first hundred of the season.

The batsman looked in outstanding form, and hit a number of straight and square drives to the ropes.

Dippenaar was more watchful, with his hundred coming from 233 balls with thirteen fours and a six.

When the batsman bought up three figures, the joy was clear to see. Dippenaar has been disappointed to get out in the 80s and 90s on a number of occasions for the club, but this time he made a well-deserved hundred, and boy, did everyone enjoy the moment!

There were a couple of nervy moments as the batsman approached his hundred, including an inside edge that flew for four rather than into the stumps, and a short ball that hit Dippenaar on the helmet. But it was mainly a calm and unflustered knock which was just what the doctor ordered.

The duo had to negate a double threat in the first session, as Surrey predominantly used their spinners before the new ball was due at around midday.

The pair used their feet well in picking off the dangerous Murtaza Hussain, and both also looked to be aggressive against leggie Chris Schofield when he entered the attack.

A key phase in the game was always going to come with the new ball, so when Ackerman and Dippenaar emerged unscathed and unbeaten at lunch, a lot of the hard graft had been done.

The duo not only staved off the threat from the visiting attack, but also added an outstanding 151 runs in the opening session to take thoughts of victory away from Surrey.

With each run counting double in effect, that first period was critical and puts into context how well they played.

Both reached their centuries with cut boundaries and looked determined to carry on their good work after lunch.

Ackerman again continued to time the ball beautifully, p[articularly through the covers where he played a number of gorgeous strokes.

Dippenaar continued to use the pace of the ball to his advantage, and when spin re-entered the attack, was only too happy to use his feet and strike the ball hard and straight.

The stand was now well-clear of the previous third-wicket best for Leicestershire against Surrey, going past the 236 put on by Maurice Tompkin and Charles Palmer at the Oval in 1951.

Unfortunately, it finished before another notable milestone, as Usman Afzaal (3-51) ended Dippenaar’s stay at the crease.

Darren Maddy and Brad Hodge share the record first-class third-wicket partnership with their unbroken 436-run effort against Loughborough UCCE, but Dippenaar and Ackerman almost broke the highest third-wicket stand against another county.

That record of 316* was set by Willie Watson and Alan Wharton against Somerset at Taunton in 1961, and when Dippenaar holed out to sub Andre Nel at a deep mid-on position, the stand was just two shy of that tally.

It was a shame the stand ended at that untimely moment, but it is nevertheless County’s eighth best partnership in first-class cricket for any wicket.

It was always going to be difficult for Jim Allenby to come in at that stage, and he lost Ackerman shortly after when Afzaal ended his 226-ball stay at the crease.

The slow left-armer bowled the batsman off his pads after going over the wicket, and later claimed a third wicket in bizarre fashion for the unfortunate Allenby.

The all-rounder timed a powerful sweep towards mid-wicket, but the ball rebounded off the backside of short-leg Michael Brown back to keeper Jon Batty, who held a reaction one-hand catch.

It was such bad luck for Allenby, who had waited so long for his opportunity at the wicket, but James Taylor (23*) and Tom New (27*) combined at the crease to see things through to the close.

It was not without event though. After a previous attempted slower ball by Stuart Meaker resulted in a beamer at Taylor, the bowler sent down another high delivery without pitching that signalled the end of his action for the game.

The quickie apologised for his actions, but had to be withdrawn from the attack by Jeremy Lloyds under the rules of the game.

That meant Surrey turned to the occasional bowling of opening batsmen Scott Newman and Michael Brown to finish things off, but New and Taylor picked off the mixed bag sent down and ensured County gained a great draw from the match.

At the end of day two, the team were staring down the barrel, but full credit must go to everyone in ensuring seven points were gained from the contest.