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CC2: Foster at the double

Sunday, May 23 2004

Essex v Leicestershire, Chelmsford
Foster's lifetime best to no avail

An absolute belter of a batting track was the only likely winner when play started on day 4 with James Foster already in unknown territory on his overnight 179 and with Essex 155 ahead.

A rapid assault on the bowling saw Foster pass 200 and go on to 212 before being caught behind off the bowling of Mark Cleary, at which time Essex declared leaving the visitors to make 199 to avoid an innings defeat.

Gough and Brant gave the home side the edge with early breakthroughs, Brant bowling first innings hero Brad Hodge, then when Danish Kaneria started whirling away to great effect it seemed as though Leicestershire were sliding to defeat, losing their fifth wicket on 147 with still well over a session to survive.

Essex toiled with the old ball in the face of some determined defence, in particular from Jeremy Snape who doggedly survived for almost three hours for his 39. The return of Gough prised out Nixon with Leicestershire still 33 shy of making the home side bat again, but skipper Phil DeFreitas stuck out the last hour and a half to earn the visitors a share of the spoils.

Leicestershire 510
Hodge 240, Robinson 56, Middlebrook 3-117, Danish Kaneria 3-139
and 212-6
Robinson 53, Danish Kaneria 3-42
Essex 708-9 dcl
Foster 212, Jefferson 128, Cook 126, Cleary 4-130, DeFreitas 3-145

Match drawn. Essex 12 points, Leicestershire 10 points

Derbyshire v Somerset, Derby
Ambition in short measure at Derby

What could have been an exciting last day at Derby was somewhat spoiled by an unimaginative safety-first declaration by Luke Sutton, and a declining of the run chase by Michael Burns. In the end, a game which had been threatening to come to life was finally and mercifully extinguished.

Derbyshire resumed on their overnight 344-6, already 404 ahead, and smashed another 43 runs in under 5 overs, thanks largely to Graeme Welch who blasted a quick-fire 45*.

With the total on 387, the declaration came, leaving Somerset the small matter of 448 to win at a rate approaching five runs per over. There was never a moment when the batting side looked in the mood for such a run chase, and despite losing Edwards and Cox before lunch, there was never a moment when they looked in danger of losing the contest.

Francis ground out 68 in over 3 hours, and once more it was left to Ian Blackwell, still a huge favourite amongst some Derby supporters to provide what entertainment there was on show with a relatively swashbuckling (swashbucklish?) undefeated 64. As the game limped toward the last half hour and with Somerset comfortable on 252-4, the soporific last day was finally put to bed. I'm surprised anyone noticed.

Derbyshire 367
Bassano 83, Walker 80, Caddick 6-92
and 387-7
Rogers 91, Gait 81, Adnan 60, Caddick 3-119)
Somerset 307
Blackwell 111, Walker 5-69, Welch 3-79
and 252-4
Francis 68, Blackwell 64*

Match drawn. Derbyshire 11 points, Somerset 10 points.


Posted by Eddie