Cobb savours special innings

Joshua Cobb hit a maiden first-class ton as Leics turned the screw at Lord's

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Joshua Cobb struck a maiden first-class hundred as Leicestershire set themselves up for a last-day victory push in their LV County Championship Division Two clash against Middlesex at Lord’s.

Only 18 on Sunday and with a previous high score of just 44, Cobb hit three sixes and 13 fours to finish 120 not out as the Foxes closed on 475 for five for a lead of 108.

The former Oakham College student achieved something his father, Russell, never managed in 118 first-class games for the Foxes.

Cobb’s achievement was the most notable landmark of a day when records tumbled.

The teenager’s partnership of 266 unbroken with HD Ackerman was a record for the sixth wicket against Middlesex, eclipsing that of Indian tourists Vinoo Mankat and Vijay Hazari of 226 undefeated back in 1946.

It also wiped out the Leicestershire record for any wicket against Middlesex, 236 set by David Gower and Brian Davison at Lord’s in 1976.

Ackerman meanwhile finished the day unbeaten on 190 not out with 16 fours as the hosts’ attack laboured on the most docile of wickets.

Ackerman began the day on 33 not out with Leicestershire 184 for three and the opening hour gave no hint of the run glut to follow.

Middlesex took the new ball after 83 overs and Alan Richardson struck the first of two quick blows in the following over trapping Jim Allenby lbw for 10 with the score at 203.

When the Middlesex paceman struck again four overs later pinning James Taylor, also lbw, for three Middlesex would have entertained hopes of a first-innings lead.

It was a measure of Middlesex’s control at this stage that it was the first ball of the 18th over before Ackerman hit the first boundary of the day through mid-off from a Tim Murtagh half-volley.

However, once Cobb had survived a few hairy moments against Richardson and the new ball, the visitors dominated.

Ackerman became the fourth player this season to make 1,000 runs just after lunch when he reached 80, en route to his century from 188 balls with 12 fours.

Cobb’s 50 arrived off 152 balls with six fours and at 365 the duo passed the previous record for Leicestershire’s sixth wicket against Middlesex, one which had stood since 1929.

Ackerman’s 150 came off 266 balls, but the that moment was eclipsed when Cobb pushed Dawid Malan to cover for a single to reach his hundred in 255 balls with two sixes and 11 fours.