Australia thrash Leicestershire

Despite being overshadowed somewhat by Darren Gough’s hat trick against Hampshire, Australia have continued their dominance before the Natwest Series to win comfortably against Leicestershire.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the tactic appeared to backfire as Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting went early. However this was where the problems ended for the Australians as Matthew Hayden initially was in destructive mood, flaying the ball to all parts.

The burly Queenslander continued where he left off against the PCA Masters team a few days previously, crafting an innings that reeked of class and oozed pure hitting quality. When he finally perished for 107 off 96 balls in the 30th over, the score already read 166. The entrance of Andrew Symonds raised the scoring pace even further, with an innings that rivalled Hayden’s earlier efforts.

Symonds went ballistic, against the spin of Jeremy Snape and Claude Henderson in particular. He combined with a typically methodical performance from Martyn, who hit 85, to push the score through to 321 for 4. 10 fours and 3 sixes later, Symonds finished unbeaten on 92 off just 59 deliveries. It was the type of innings that pushes an average score to an impregnable one.

Facing such an imposing total, the opening pairing of Darren Maddy and Tom New were kept in check with an accurate display of fast bowling by Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath. Skipper Hylton Ackerman joined overseas player Dinesh Mongia to stage a mini-fightback, with a 46 run partnership.

However when Mongia fell for 21 (97 for 3), Brad Hogg ripped through the middle order with a three-wicket haul. It left Leicestershire teetering on 120 for 6, at which point the contest was effectively over.

Wicketkeeper Paul Nixon and Otis Gibson restored some pride at least for the county side, with a 94 run partnership for the seventh wicket. Leicestershire eventually finished with 226 for 8 off the full complement of overs.

Australia’s aggressive batting display will signal to England’s top order players who failed against Hampshire that they will have to lift their performance. The display continues Ricky Ponting’s side’s professional and clinical performance on their tour so far. The Natwest Series begins on Tuesday.

Australians 321 for 4 (Hayden 107, Symonds 92*, Martyn 85) defeated Leicestershire 226 for 8 (Hogg 3-56, Gibson 50) by 95 runs.