Colin Ackermann leads fightback as Leicestershire dig in

Captain Colin Ackermann led Leicestershire's resistance after Nottinghamshire looked to complete a quick victory by declaring at lunch on the third day of the Bob Willis Trophy match at Grace Road.

Ackermann finished the day unbeaten on 58, the South African's fourth half-century in eight innings in the competition this season, as the Foxes finished the day leading by 22 runs with seven second innings wickets intact.

A day of contrasting cricket began with an exciting and at times chaotic morning session during which Notts hit 122 runs but lost six wickets before declaring with a lead of 121.

Resuming on 221 for 2, the visitors lost a wicket to the second ball of the day, Joe Clarke top-edging a pull at a short ball from Ben Mike and skying a catch to Gavin Griffiths, moving to his left at mid-on.

Ben Duckett looked in good touch in moving to 37 but he too was dismissed pulling at Mike, Harry Dearden making a tough catch look simple as he ran along the boundary from midwicket to square leg. Steven Mullaney, on 18, became Mike's third victim of the morning when he bottom-edged a pull at a delivery that didn't get up into his stumps.

Tom Taylor took the new ball and his first delivery with it cut back to bowl Samit Patel for 13, but his sixth was hit out of the ground, lofted high over square leg by Trego. Tom Moores came and went quickly, losing his off stump to a Griffiths yorker, but Trego was joined by Lyndon James.

The young right-handed all-rounder, who opens the batting for Notts second team, showed he could hit the ball just as far as Trego, clearing the stanbds with a leg-side hit that bounced out of the ground and into a shop.

James was on 36 when Trego top-edged Griffiths and was caught at third man, prompting Mullaney, conscious of the bad weather currently forecast for the final day, to declare.

Foxes opener Hassan Azad, who earlier in the day signed a contract extension keeping him at the Fischer County Ground until the end of 2022, edged a catch behind off the bowling of Trego for 6, and Harry Dearden - having been fortunate to be dropped at second slip off Trego when on just 4 - went leg before on the back foot to Mullaney for 16.

Sam Evans dug in, however, batting through the afternoon session for 24, and he continued to bat obdurately after tea, reaching 48 and adding 93 for the third wicket with Ackermann before an inside edge of the pad gave short leg a catch off Patel's left-arm spin.