LEICESTER (England), July 17: Australia’s hopes of going into the opening Ashes Test on Thursday on a high were dashed on Sunday by a fellow Australian. Chris Rogers hit a maiden double-century as Leicestershire drew the three-day match with Ricky Ponting’s tourists at Grace Road.
Western Australia batsman Rogers’ 209 helped his side to a second-innings 363 for five when play came to a halt. Australia had declared overnight on 582 for seven with a first-innings lead of 365.
Rogers, who hit 32 fours and three sixes from 219 balls, was helped by fellow opener Darren Robinson, who made 81 in a county record opening stand of 247.
The 27-year-old had a point to prove against his native country having never been anywhere near selection for the international side and he went on the offensive after lunch.
His footwork and lofted driving down the ground off spinner Stuart MacGill was impressive and his accumulation of runs off the pace bowlers was equally confident and effective.
Robinson had almost ground himself to a halt, meanwhile, by the time Lee ripped out his middle-stump with a yorker shortly before tea for Australia’s belated first success of a frustrating day.
The tourists — MacGill in particular — fared much better in the evening session, to the point that their victory hopes were briefly rekindled as in a passage of play which saw Rogers’ wicket finally fall as one of three for the addition of only 16 runs in the space of four overs.
Scoreboard
LEICESTERSHIRE (1st Innings):
D.D.J. Robinson lbw b Lee 0
C.J.L. Rogers c Kasprowicz b Lee 56
J.K. Maunders c Hayden b Lee 17
J.L. Sadler retired hurt 4
H.D. Ackerman lbw b Kasprowicz 12
J.J. Krejza b MacGill 38
T.J. New c Hayden b Lee 18
O.D. Gibson lbw b MacGill 30
D.D. Masters c Gilchrist b Gillespie 15
S.C.J. Broad c Gilchrist b Gillespie 0
C.M. Willoughby not out 0
EXTRAS
(B-10, LB-7, NB-10) 27
TOTAL (all out, 55.2 overs) 217
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-36, 3-83, 4-119, 5-143, 6-157, 7-215, 8-217, 9-217.
