County Championship: Essex drive Leicestershire to observe on

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Uptonsteel Grace Street, Leicester (day two)

Essex 401: Cox 204, Critchley 97; Ahmed 4-102

Leicestershire 187: Kelly 78; Harmer 3-42, Bennett 3-48 & 51-0: R Patel 28*

Essex 7pts, Leics 3pts

Match scorecard

Struggling Leicestershire are in peril of slipping to a fourth consecutive Division One defeat after being made to observe on by Essex on day two of their County Championship conflict at Uptonsteel Grace Street.

Replying to an Essex first-innings complete of 401 constructed round a extremely spectacular 204 by Jordan Cox, Leicestershire have been bowled out for 187.

They negotiated the primary 13 overs of their second innings to be 51 with out loss going into day three however are nonetheless 163 behind.

New Zealand worldwide Nick Kelly made 78 however no different batter handed 23 as Leicestershire’s first innings elapsed in 63.2 overs, off-spinner Simon Harmer and seamer Charlie Bennett taking three wickets every.

Sheridon Gumbs, a 22-year-old opener making his debut in a depleted Foxes line-up, made a beneficial impression and leg-spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed – like Cox, named within the England squad for the second Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand – superior his claims by taking 4 wickets, though he may make solely 5 with the bat.

Gumbs made solely 21 however defied the Essex assault for simply in need of two hours in his first style of first-class Cricket and, in his second innings, is 16 not out in a single day alongside Rishi Patel on 28.

Perversely, Leicestershire’s imperilled finish to the day adopted what had been their morning.

Though Essex achieved a formidable complete given they have been requested to bat first, their last seven wickets fell for simply 63 runs as Leicestershire claimed most bowling factors.

A sequence of dismissals that started with Matt Critchley’s demise on 97 simply earlier than Friday’s shut and nightwatch Jamie Porter’s departure for a duck continued with Ahmed dismissing Charlie Allison and Noah Thain throughout the first three overs of the second day. The second new ball then noticed Josh Davey take away Cox and Shane Snater in consecutive overs.

Cox, whose twenty sixth 4 had taken him previous 200 for the third time in his profession, was properly caught behind by his diving namesake Ben off a supply that spat considerably. The ball rebounded off his higher arm, which he rubbed pointedly, however within the umpire’s judgment had brushed his glove first.

There was no such argument with Snater, whose off stump flew.

Cox and Critchley scored three quarters of Essex’s complete between them and although Harmer’s 36 secured them a fourth batting level earlier than Tom Scriven bowled him off the underside edge, at 338-3 that they had been on the lookout for all 5.

Nonetheless, it quickly felt like 401 could be loads as Leicestershire, missing 5 of the batters who made up their high seven when these sides met in Chelmsford a month in the past, by no means threatened to get shut.

Patel, maybe unluckily, was given out leg earlier than to Porter earlier than Snater equally eliminated Rehan – dropped at first slip within the earlier over – with one which saved notably low.

The recalled Lewis Hill was likewise undone by a ball that struck him at shin top.

Gumbs, a left-hander who performed Record A cricket for Surrey earlier than shifting to Grace Street final yr, impressed along with his persistence and utility. However Harmer, launched after 20 overs, provoked an error with a flighted supply that he edged to slide, occurring to show one sharply from outdoors off stump to bowl Joey Evison. Ben Cox was leg earlier than to Thain providing no shot.

Kelly, the only remaining main impediment in entrance of Essex, reached his half-century from 78 balls however misplaced extra companions as Harmer had Ben Inexperienced caught behind off an inside edge, and Bennett struck twice in consecutive overs. He eliminated Tom Scriven by way of a superb, one-handed catch by Cox earlier than Josh Davey tamely lofted a full toss straight to further cowl.

Alex Inexperienced, a 19-year-old tempo bowler making his second first-class look, helped Kelly add one other 20 for the final wicket earlier than the latter’s defiance ended with a steepling catch to long-off.

Report by ECB Reporters’ Community, supported by Rothesay.