COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION II

Varun Aaron shines as Leicestershire take higher ground

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Aaron picked up a four-fer to help his side take the advantage. © Getty

The game at Birmingham stands on a knife's edge thanks to a see-saw battle dominated mostly by the bowlers. Warwickshire had their lower order to thank after Tim Ambrose and Henry Brooks helped the team eke out a narrow lead with a vital 95-run stand for the 10th wicket. Earlier, Ian Bell's fine 61 held up one end while the top order crumbled around him, with Doug Bracewell, and later Steven Crook wreaking havoc.

Their narrow nine-run lead could well turn out to be decisive in a low-scoring affair. In response, Northamptonshire found themselves in a spot at 160 for 7 with Olly Stone and Chris Wright doing the bulk of the damage. Most of the Northamptonshire batsmen were able to get themselves to a start, with the top six all getting to double digits, before losing their wicket. They will hope they do not come to regret that as the game progresses.

Brief scores: Northamptonshire 256 and 160/7 (Ben Duckett 38, Olly Stone 3-30) lead Warwickshire 265 (Tim Ambrose 78, Ian Bell 61; Steven Crook 5-51) by 151 runs.

In another bowler dominated match, Kent managed a steal on Sussex with an all-round effort on Day 2. Despite their advantage, however, Kent are far from comfortable and will know they need more of the same come Day 3.

Having taken four early wickets the previous day, Kent struggled to maintain the same intensity. That allowed Sussex's lower middle order help its team claw back. Luke Wright, Ben Brown and David Wiese all chipped in with vital contributions, while Michael Burgess hit a fifty as Sussex managed 181.

With a slender, but significant, lead in hand, Kent's batsmen put up a more disciplined effort. They lost their openers cheaply, and were reduced to 31/2, but Heino Kuhn, Joe Denly and Zak Crawley all played well to take them to 125/4 at Stumps.

Brief scores: Kent 215 and 125/4 (Heino Kuhn 47, Ishant Sharma 2-26) lead Sussex 181 (Michael Burgess 54, Matt Henry 4-69) by 159 runs.

Continuing on their good work from Day 1, Derbyshire put up a solid score on the board thanks to contributions through the batting order. As many as four batters got fifties, while two players notched up forties to help Derbyshire put up a strong total.

Derbyshire lost the well-set Wayne Madsen and Matthew Critchley early in the day. However, Daryn Smit put Derbyshire back on track with a patient knock. A late defiance from Tony Palladino only added to Durham's frustration.

In reply, Durham made a solid start themselves with Cameron Steel and Graham Clark getting themselves off to good starts as the team ended with 115/2.

Brief scores: Derbyshire 427 (Wayne Madsen 85, Matthew Critchley 64; Cameron Steel 2-19, Paul Collingwood 2-40) lead Durham 115/2 (Graham Clark 42*, Hardus Viljoen 2-15) by 312 runs.

Only 26 overs of play were possible on Day 2 at the Lord's as Middlesex stretched their total past the 450-run mark, by scoring 99 runs in the day's play. They lost two more wickets on the truncated day with Craig Miles accounting for the same in back to back overs. Ollie Rayner and Tom Helm since added 58 runs for the ninth wicket to defy further inroads attempted by Gloucestershire.

Brief scores: Middlesex 455/8 (Nick Gubbins 99, Dawid Malan 76, Eoin Morgan 76; Daniel Worrall 3-73, Craig Miles 2-85) vs Gloucestershire.

Varun Aaron starred with the ball for Leicestershire as he picked up four wickets to see Glamorgan crash from a solid 82 for no loss to 178 all-out. Glamorgan lost their first three wickets early as Leicestershire struck conceding only nine runs. There were no partnerships along the way either as Ben Raine, Gavin Griffiths and Neil Dexter picked up two wickets apiece to bowl them out cheaply on Day 2 and also eke out a slim 13-run lead.

Batting for the second time, Leicestershire dug in deep through a solid 62-run opening stand shared between skipper Michael Carberry and Paul Horton. Horton went on to register a fifty before being dismissed exactly on the same score. Colin Ackermann and Mark Cosgrove have hung in there to expand their lead to 132 runs by the end of the day's play.

Brief Scores: Leicestershire 191 & 119/2 (Paul Horton 50; Mark Cosgrove 25*) lead Glamorgan 178 (Nicholas Selman 40; Varun Aaron 4-65) by 132 runs.

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