GRACE ROAD

Day one of four (Leicestershire win toss)

Leicestershire have scored 288 for six wickets against Warwickshire

LUNCH

James Anyon, the Warwickshire fast-medium bowler, added to Leicestershire’s batting problems by taking the wickets of Matthew Boyce and Boeta Dippenaar with his first 16 balls before Paul Nixon and Hylton Ackerman shared a solid unbroken third-wicket partnership of 65 in 25 overs.

With Tom New omitted, Dippenaar stepped up to open the innings and was second out when edging an away swinger to Darren Maddy at second slip. Boyce had been leg-before, playing across the third ball of the match. Nixon, on 12, survived a difficult chance to Ian Salisbury in the gully off Anyon, whose excellent initial ten-over spell produced two for 30.

Tea

Losing Nixon and Jim Allenby immediately after lunch echoed Leicestershire’s start to the game. Nixon was bowled by Neil Carter’s first ball following the resumption and Allenby departed for a duck in the second over when Salisbury turned the ball impressively to hit the top of the off stump.

Ackerman set about rebuilding the innings again on a reliable pitch, this time in partnership with Joshua Cobb, 17, playing in only his second championship match. Cobb, Oakham-educated and son of Russell, the former Leicestershire batsman, played a staunch supporting role, advancing to 26 not out while Ackerman completed a half-century from 109 balls and reached 87 not out at tea. They had put on 97 in 32 overs.

Close

The partnership escalated to 139 in 43 overs when Cobb was caught at first slip off Ant Botha, his innings of 35 having included the on-driven boundary off Salisbury that took Leicestershire to their first batting bonus point in four matches, dating back to the Glamorgan game on May 31.

Johan Malcolm, Ackerman’s next partner, had not even appeared on the scorecard. He was brought in for his championship debut in the morning when Dillon du Preez withdrew with an ankle and foot injury. Malcolm, 22, Kent-born, with a Dutch family background, had previously played first-class matches for Loughborough University. His stay was brief but Ackerman expanded his fifth championship hundred this season to 173 not out, with 24 fours and a six off 270 balls by the close and dominated the Leicestershire innings.