Northamptonshire 337 for six (Homosexual 88, Bartlett 71*, Procter 64) vs Leicestershire
Homosexual’s 88 from 110 balls was the day’s most eye-catching batting efficiency however Bartlett’s unbeaten 71 and Procter’s 64 from 164 had a lot to commend them for grittiness as the house aspect’s bowlers, whereas costly within the morning, did finally make them work onerous for his or her features.
Scott Currie and Tom Scriven completed with two wickets every however on-loan seamer Ben Inexperienced was unfortunate to not have any success, whereas England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, returning to county responsibility for his second look of the season, was impressively tough to attain towards.
Homosexual was the dominant determine in a morning session wherein Northamptonshire have been the clear winners. Leicestershire, who additionally recalled Matt Salisbury for the injured Ben Mike, made just one breakthrough after skipper Lewis Hill had gained the toss.
The house assault struggled with size and line at occasions and each Homosexual and opening accomplice Ricardo Vasconcelos, each of whom have began the season properly, hungrily took benefit. If there was one thing for the bowlers in a green-tinged pitch it largely proved elusive. Northamptonshire have been 60 with out loss inside the primary hour.
By lunch that they had 128 on the board however had surrendered one wicket, Vasconcelos shedding his off stump to an inswinging ball from Scriven however Homosexual, although slightly streaky on two or three events, notably towards Scriven, had appeared in deep trouble solely when Currie backed up an excellent cease at third slip with a shy on the stumps that will have run him out for 41 had it hit.
The 24-year-old left-hander cashed in two matches in the past with a career-best 261 towards a Middlesex assault combating the Kookaburra. He reached 52 from 61 balls and appeared good for a sixth profession hundred right here. Nevertheless, after growing his boundary depend to 16, he fell on 88 quickly after lunch when Currie pushed one by means of with some additional tempo and bowled him off an inside edge.
The guests suffered one other blow when their Indian Take a look at batter Karun Nair, who additionally has a double-hundred beneath his belt this season, was dismissed for 18, Salisbury discovering a skinny outdoors edge to have him caught at first slip, by way of the gloves of ‘keeper Ben Cox.
Leicestershire bowled with higher management within the center session than that they had earlier than lunch, with Currie specifically bowling some spectacular spells that deserved extra success. But they discovered themselves up towards two strong adversaries in Procter and winter signing Bartlett, who had added 66 in slightly beneath 20 overs when tea arrived at 242 for 3, Procter having posted his fourth fifty-plus rating in 5 innings.
With Ahmed rising to his process as a foil, giving little away from the pavilion finish, and Currie persevering with to bend his again on the Bennett Finish, stress continued to construct on the fourth-wicket pair after tea and it was Ahmed who finally break up them, bowling Procter with a ball the left-hander formed to chop however didn’t stay up for the shot.
Leicestershire made the guests work onerous for his or her runs however not as soon as within the day did a breakthrough immediate a flurry of fast wickets. Bartlett now had James Gross sales for firm, and one other 46 runs have been chipped out earlier than the brand new ball introduced a second wicket for Scriven, who discovered the sting with a magnificence, Louis Kimber taking a very good, low catch at first slip. Bartlett, in the meantime, had accomplished his first half-century for his new county from 114 balls, however Northamptonshire misplaced Saif Zaib earlier than the shut, properly taken by Cox off Currie.
