Pettini latest to embrace Leicestershire move

Sussex 163 and 113 for 0 (Joyce 62*) trail Leicestershire 473 for 8 dec (Pettini 142*, Horton 100, Cosgrove 80, O'Brien 55) by 197 runs
Scorecard

Leicestershire could have been forgiven on this of all days if their thoughts occasionally strayed from the Sussex coast to the parties going on in their home city. Back in Leicester, home of the Premier League champions lest you have been seal spotting in Antarctica for the past month, there were street parties until 4am, fans were reportedly climbing the clock tower and, reinterred last year in Leicester Cathedral, even Richard III was no longer talking of winters of discontent. It could well be the first recorded example of anybody in Brighton being envious of a night out in Leicester.

In their own small way, though, Leicestershire had cause for satisfaction even if it did not come with TV cameras, a social media frenzy and an invitation to a Jamie Vardy drinks party. To declare their first innings on 473 for 8, 310 runs ahead of Sussex, pre-season favourites for the Division Two title, was further proof of their determination to lose the tag of the weakest county in the land. Well worth a celebratory room service and an early night.

With the leaders Essex seemingly involved in a stalemate with Worcestershire at New Road, Leicestershire have the opportunity to strengthen their hold on second place if they can force victory, but they failed to nick out a couple of Sussex wickets by the close, Ed Joyce and Chris Nash assembling 113 without too many alarms in the 39 overs to the close - although Nash, on 9, was fortunate to survive a slip chance off Clint McKay.

Leicestershire have made much of the fact that they were signing leaders when Paul Horton, Neil Dexter and Mark Pettini, former captains all, were identified as key components in the rebuilding of what had been the most ailing county club in the land. They were also signing batsmen: May is barely upon us and all of them have struck a Championship hundred which, even allowing for an early season characterised by flatter pitches, must bring immense satisfaction.

Proven players Leicestershire's trio might be but they are not too far beyond their 30th birthdays, their combined first-class tally is now around 24,000 runs, and all possess solid first-class averages between 35 and 40. The lure of a new county has whetted their appetite. Dexter's introductory hundred came last week in a strong draw against Kent; Horton and Pettini have followed up here at Hove with Pettini, 42 not out overnight, moving on to an unbeaten 142 - his highest Championship score for nearly a decade - before time was called on their first innings shortly before tea.

"It's been a good start for all of us I guess," Pettini said. "It is important that we use our experience to get the runs. For myself it's been fantastic to get a chance to play four-day regularly again. It's been a great move for me. I have always believed in my four-day cricket but we had some impressive young guys at Essex who needed opportunities."

Pettini lost his way as a four-day player at Essex, but he looked acquitted for the task here, one edge against Ajmal Shahzad which flew wide of slip a rare blemish. He looked strong square of the wicket and three times lofted Sussex's spinners confidently down the ground for sixes. Luke Wells, a legspinner now with occasional revisitations of his offspin, is a more solid performer these days and he found turn as he struck the stumps of Wayne White with a googly and Ben Raine, heaving to leg, in quick succession, but Danny Briggs, like Pettini eager to prove his Championship worth, went wicketless: so far he has shown more polish than clean-up power.

As for the football, Pettini was actually born in Brighton and supports Liverpool. "But it was a great achievement and I'm happy to join the bandwagon," he said. He has not joined a bad bandwagon at Leicestershire, it seems. If a smallish squad can avoid injuries - and they have mild concern over their captain Mark Cosgrove, who left the field with a jarred hip, suffered intercepting a drive into the covers from Joyce - they look capable of making considerable strides.