Leicestershire lean on imports

A South African-inspired riposte prevented Middlesex from wrapping up a three-day win over Leicestershire in their LV=County Championship match at Southgate.

Leicestershire, following on 235 behind, fought back through former Test batsmen HD Ackerman and Boeta Dippenaar.

Capitulation appeared on the cards once Leicestershire, batting again by 2.15pm and having given up their last five first-innings wickets for 97, lost Matthew Boyce leg before to Tim Murtagh to the fifth ball of their second innings.

But the visitors proved their willingness for the fight by battling through to stumps on 177 for two, with Ackerman on 45 and Dippenaar 85.

Boeta Dippenaar stood firm for Leicestershire in making an unbeaten 85 on the third day at Southgate

Though hugely admirable, Leicestershire’s policy of playing eight England-qualified players in their side this summer could lead to a few heavy championship defeats along the way - but it may also unearth potential Test players.

While South Africans Ackerman and Dippenaar saved Leicestershire from an ignominious three-day reverse, it was a fluent, two-hour stay in their first innings by Oakham School prodigy Josh Cobb that probably saved them from an innings defeat.

The youngest first-class centurion at Lord’s, having hit 148 against Middlesex last summer when aged 18 years and five days, Cobb looked equally comfortable today in making a fluent 60.

He was unfortunate to go when a skimming drive off Alan Richardson was caught low down by Steve Finn at mid-on.

Despite a painful 69-ball nine by James Taylor that included 63 minutes without a run, Cobb’s demise sparked a Leicestershire collapse that saw them lose their last five wickets in 23 overs.

Finn proved their arch tormentor with 3-56, while Richardson and occasional leg-spinner Dawid Malan bagged two apiece.

Batting again, Boyce completed a miserable game when he fell to Tim Murtagh half forward, and Leicestershire’s headaches worsened when Tom New, who top-scored in the first innings with 66, nicked to slip off Shaun Udal for 43.

The visitors were still trailing by 154 when Ackerman and Dippenaar came together, but the pair played out the remaining 35 overs in the day to add an unbroken 96 for the third wicket.