Azad hits milestone as County build useful total
OPENER Hassan Azad passed 1,000 championship runs for the season as Leicestershire built a solid first innings score after being put in by promotion-chasing Northamptonshire at the Fischer County Ground.
Azad made 86, sharing a partnership of 122 for the third wicket with Mark Cosgrove as the Foxes reached an imposing 150-2.
But Ben Sanderson produced the ball of the day to bowl the in-form Cosgrove for a fine 65 before Luke Procter picked up two wickets in two balls to ensure the visitors remained very much in the game.
The Foxes lost captain Paul Horton early, Brett Hutton finding the right-hander’s edge with just his second ball of the day, Alex Wakely taking a low catch at first slip.
The pitch was playing well, however, and Colin Ackermann was understandably disappointed when, having reached 16 and beginning to play fluently, he hit Gareth Berg’s first delivery in Northamptonshire colours straight to Rob Newton at point to leave Leicestershire on 28-2.
Azad and Mark Cosgrove raised a 50 partnership off 77 balls, but Azad did have one fortunate escape when, on 34, he clipped a Hutton inswinger to leg gully, only for New Zealand international Doug Bracewell, signed by Northants for the final three championship games of the season, to drop the chance.
Azad and Cosgrove extended their third wicket partnership well into three figures before Cosgrove, who had hit 11 boundaries and looked in wonderful touch, had his off-bail removed by a fine delivery from Sanderson which straightened off the seam.
Procter then bowled Azad off the inside edge before swinging the next ball back in to win a leg before decision against Neil Dexter.
George Rhodes, making his Leicestershire debut after joining the county from Worcestershire, dug in, compiling useful partnerships with Harry Swindells, Callum Parkinson and Chris Wright, before reaching an unbeaten half-century shortly before the close.
■ Bowling coach Matt Mason will leave Leicestershire at the end of the season to take up a role with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers.
Mason joined the Foxes ahead of the 2018 season and has since worked with Muhammad Abbas, Gavin Griffiths, Ben Mike, Dieter Klein, Tom Taylor, Will Davis and Chris Wright, as well as the spin bowlers.
Mason said: “It is with sadness that I am leaving Leicestershire after two great seasons here. In a short space of time I have been lucky enough to build close relationships with some talented cricketers and, more importantly, great people.
“I wish all of them the very best in their futures.
“To Paul Nixon and his coaching staff, I can only say thank you for all your support in my time at the club.
“I will certainly leave an even better coach for my experiences here. Leicestershire is a fantastic club with an exciting future, and I look forward to watching its progress.”
On his new challenge, Mason said: “I am very excited to be taking up the bowling coach role with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers.”
County chief executive Karen Rothery said: “Matt has done a tremendous job, but we understand the role he has been offered is one he could not turn down.
“We thank Matt for his time here and wish him the very best of luck.”
BOWLING COACH: Matt Mason