Foxes make bright start as batsmen plough on

THE batsmen certainly had the best of the first two sessions at Derby as Leicestershire picked up their first batting point while Colin Ackermann passed 80 and looked set for a century.

Opener Harry Dearden fell four runs short of what would have been his second first-class 50, this after the loss of Paul Horton in the first hour. Mark Cosgrove did make his own half-century as all of the visitors’ top four made starts.

Before the match got underway, Cosgrove said: “It’s about putting in another good performance but we’re also looking to go up there and improve by another five per cent.”

Bowler Rob Sayer, who recovered from a hamstring niggle, came into Leicestershire’s team though Ben Raine missed out despite making the 13-man squad. Sayer wasn’t needed early on the opening day though with Leicestershire winning the toss and choosing to bat.

Vice-captain Gary Wilson was included in Derbyshire’s XI following his recent international commitments with Ireland, which included two ODIs against England and a Tri-Nation Series versus New Zealand and Bangladesh in Dublin.

Paceman Rob Hemmings, who recently returned from injury, couldn’t provide any early breakthroughs in his first senior appearance of the season, with fellow quick bowlers Hardus Viljoen and Will Davis remaining out with injury.

A steady opening partnership between Horton and Dearden was brought to an end though in the 14th over with Horton caught behind off the bowling of Tony Palladino for 20.

Dearden fell shortly after lunch, caught by at gully off Tom Taylor for 46, though Ackermann and Cosgrove set about rebuilding, bringing up their 100run partnership in the 61st over.