Leicestershire dominate after record Ahmed-Hill partnership gives them a commanding 251-run lead against Lancs.
At the end of the second day of the Rothesay County Championship match versus Lancashire at the Uptonsteel County Ground, league-leading Leicestershire dominate thanks to a record-breaking combination between Rehan Ahmed and Lewis Hill.
Hill, whose 119 was his first three-figure score for two seasons, and Ahmed, with his first-class best of 136, combined to set a championship-best for Leicestershire’s third wicket against Lancashire, surpassing a record set in 1929.
Although Lancashire’s bowlers persisted in their efforts, taking seven wickets in the afternoon and evening sessions, the Foxes closed with a commanding 251-run advantage thanks to a half-century from all-rounder Ian Holland.
In order to complete a maximum bonus point return from the game, they also received all five batting bonus points.
Because of the favourable conditions at the beginning of play—the previous day’s brightness having given way to overnight rain and dense cloud cover—Hill and Ahmed’s partnership, which saw them both not out overnight on 29 and 26 respectively, was all the more impressive.
The first hour was a true struggle between the two right-handers, with Lancashire seamers George Balderson and Tom Bailey both hammering the bat multiple times. Though no opportunities were generated, Ahmed called Hill through for a single that would have sent his teammate back to the pavilion had Josh Bohannon’s throw not narrowly missed the stumps. This was the closest either batter came to being dismissed.
The Lancashire assault appeared appropriately depressed by lunchtime, as the score had increased by 130 runs.
When Hill and Ahmed broke loose an hour into the afternoon session, they were even more impressive. Before Ahmed reached his first century, his second against Lancashire in as many games, they broke the county’s championship record third wicket partnership of 163 against Lancashire, set by Walter Bradshaw and Norman Armstrong in 1929. They also broke the first class record of 165, set by Ben Slater and Colin Ackermann in the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020.
It took up 164 balls and included his 14th four and a cut down to third. Both then accelerated until Ahmed slashed at drive at Tom Hartley’s left-arm spin, giving Keaton Jennings a simple catch at short third man. Hill came next, scoring his century off 150 deliveries, including 14 fours and the six.
Before skipper Peter Handscomb edged an Anderson Phillip out-swinger to Jennings at second slip, Hartley also took out Hill, who was caught behind cutting at a ball that bounced more than he anticipated.
Before Holland, Logan van Beek, and the tail helped the Foxes beyond 450, a partnership of 76 between Holland and Ben Cox brought Leicestershire very near to 400.