da dobrowin： A round-up from the second day of the latest Division Two matches in the County Championship
da poker： Cricinfo staff02-Jun-2005
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Graeme Welch hit his second first-class century and then removed two of Essex’s top order to put Derbyshire in control at Chelmsford. Derbyshire’s last four wickets added 193 runs as Ant Botha and Mo Sheikh combined in partnerships of 91 and 79 with Welch. After starting the day on 22, Welch fell four runs short of a career-best after facing 193 balls, but his innings had given Derbyshire’s attack the rare luxury of having a total to bowl at. Ravinder Bopara gained four wickets for his wholehearted contribution, but generally the injury-hit Essex attack struggled. Their top order didn’t fair any better, quickly slumping to 34 for 4. Sheikh backed-up his runs with two wickets, as he vindicated David Houghton’s decision to give him his first Championship game of the season. A total collapse was in prospect until Andy Flower and Ronnie Irani shored up the innings by adding 89 and guiding Essex through to the close of play. They are still a long way behind.
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Lancashire enjoyed the better of a truncated day at Old Trafford as they chipped away at the Northants batting. James Anderson struck in his second over, removing Northants’ key batsman, Martin Love, for a rare duck. Rob White counter-attacked in aggressive fashion, striking five fours and a six in his 30-ball innings until he was run out. Bilal Shafayat and Usman Afzaal took the score along to a promising 115 for 2, but Northants then lost three for 23. Dominic Cork removed Shafayat and Afzaal when they were well set in the 40s and Muttiah Muralitharan snapped up David Sales, at silly point via bat and pad, for nine. However, with a day already lost in the match, Lancashire may not have the time to press home their strong start.
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HD Ackerman played a captain’s innings to rescue Leicestershire on the second day at the Oakham School festival. He received sterling support from his fellow South Africa, Claude Henderson, as they added an unbroken 103 for the eighth wicket after Leicestershire had been struggling at 191 for 7. For Ackerman it was his first century of the season and provided much-needed stability to Leicestershire’s innings. Their predicament came despite an opening stand of 91 between Darren Robinson and Darren Maddy, but Maddy’s dismissal on the stroke of lunch sparked a collapse. Aaron Laraman claimed two wickets and Nixon McLean removed Dinesh Mongia and John Sadler in two balls. Ian Blackwell also chipped in with a brace before the fine fightback from Leicestershire. Ackerman and Henderson resisted the eight bowlers that Graeme Smith, leading Somerset for the first time, used to try and force the breakthrough.
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Durham were indebted to some determined lower-order resistance as they fought their way back into contention at New Road. All Durham’s batsmen, except last-man Mark Davies, reached double figures, but none scored more than Phil Mustard’s 39. The top order all flattered to deceive as Worcestershire’s seam attack picked up regular wickets. Chaminda Vaas removed both openers and Matt Mason trouble the middle order, but it was Ray Price who snapped up the big wicket of Paul Collingwood for 26. At 141 for 6, Durham were struggling to reach 200, but the Division Two leaders have already shown they are able to battle back from tough situations. Not for the first time this season the tail rescued the situation. Mustard continued his decent form with a lively 39 and Liam Plunkett showed he could bat as well as bowl with a valuable 37 at No. 10. Kabir Ali picked up both batsmen to finish with 3 for 72, but Worcestershire’s day ended on a poor note when Steven Davies was caught behind during the eight overs they faced.
