Match Reports

Leicestershire v Gloucestershire

Day Three

Leicestershire defeated group leaders Gloucestershire by an innings and 93 runs as a one-sided LV=Insurance County Championship ended before tea on the third day with Gloucestershire bowled out for 200 following on.

Five for one overnight, they slipped to 31 for five inside the first hour before Ian Cockbain and Jonny Tattersall held up the home side in a defiant stand that lasted two hours and 20 minutes, both making half-centuries in adding 119.

But man-of-the-match Callum Parkinson eventually dismissed both in quick succession, Gloucestershire losing their last five wickets for 50 as left-arm spinner finished with five for 63 for career-best match figures of 10 for 108.

Gloucestershire won four of their first five Group Two matches but have now suffered back-to-back defeats, each by an innings, having been beaten by Surrey in the last round.

The Foxes, who failed to win any of their first six matches but chased down 378 in the fourth innings to beat Middlesex last Sunday, recorded consecutive victories in first-class games for the first time since 2018 and the first back-to-back wins in home matches since 2006.

Leicestershire sensed they could finish the job rapidly as they took four wickets in the first 52 minutes of the day after Gloucestershire resumed, needing to reach 293 just to make the home side bat again.

Chris Wright, getting movement off the seam, had Miles Hammond caught at first slip and Tom Lace behind the stumps in consecutive overs.
Parkinson picked up his first of the day when Glenn Phillips, who had been much more watchful than in the first innings, stepped across his stumps in trying to work to leg and was given out leg before, making his unhappiness with the decision obvious to umpire Nick Cook.

Ryan Higgins fell to an unwise slog-sweep to his second that saw him caught at mid-wicket, but Cockbain and Tattersall frustrated Leicestershire until midway through the afternoon session, both hitting seven fours.

Tattersall played well against the spin but eventually edged a slightly wide ball from Parkinson to Colin Ackermann at first slip, and soon afterwards Cockbain reached to defend one outside off stump, falling to a smart, one-handed catch to his left by Ackermann at second slip as Parkinson completed his second five-for in the match.

With his off spin, Ackermann then bowled David Payne and had Tom Smith leg before and, after a brief flourish of big hitting by Dan Worrall and Josh Shaw, bowled Worrall to finish the job.

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Day Two

Group Two leaders Gloucestershire are in danger of slipping to a second consecutive defeat after Leicestershire took firm control on the second day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match

After seeing their points advantage shrink when they were beaten heavily by Surrey last week, Gloucestershire were bowled out for 158 in reply to Leicestershire’s 451 as left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson - seemingly none the worse for a painful blow on the left forearm while batting - took five for 45 on a turning pitch with the added hazard of variable bounce.

Parkinson struck again after skipper Colin Ackermann enforced the follow-on, having Chris Dent caught at slip in the last over of the day, and Gloucestershire will resume five for one, needing a further 288 to make Leicestershire bat again. 

Only opener Miles Hammond, who made 67, offered profitable resistance in their first innings and there were three wickets also for Ackermann’s off-spin. 

Parkinson’s figures were his best since he took eight for 148 against Worcestershire in 2017, his only other haul of five wickets or higher.

Resuming on 357 for five on the back of Marcus Harris’s 148, Leicestershire achieved their first objective by taking their score past 450, rejecting the temptation to chase a fifth batting bonus point in favour of a more cautious approach.

Harry Swindells made a useful 37 before nicking Tom Smith’s left-arm spin to slip. Mike was trapped in front for 24 but it was only after lunch that the innings fell away, the last three wickets going for 15 in 29 balls. 

Hammond, who had Chris Wright caught tamely off a full toss, took two wickets in an innings for the first time in a first-class match with his off spin. 

Opening the batting, Hammond began aggressively and Gloucestershire raced to 48 from 13 overs before Ackermann struck with his first ball, turning one past the outside edge to bowl the left-handed Dent. 

New man Glenn Phillips went after the off-spinner, launching a slog-sweep T20-style for his third boundary against him, but came unstuck against Parkinson, falling to a brilliantly executed catch on the run by Harris at mid-on. 

Tom Lace, caught behind off Ackermann, Ian Cockbain, caught at second slip off Parkinson and Ryan Higgins, bowled first ball by the Lancastrian, all went cheaply before Hammond’s fell to Parkinson attempting a reverse sweep, the ball keeping low and creeping under his bat.

Smith bowled by Ackermann with another one that did not bounce as anticipated, and after Jonny Tattersall miscued Wright to midwicket, Parkinson claimed his fifth scalp as Josh Shaw went leg before.

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Day One

Australia batsman Marcus Harris continued his excellent County Championship form for Leicestershire as his century on day one put the Foxes on top against Gloucestershire.

Harris, who scored a match-winning 185 against Middlesex, was eventually out lbw for 148 to spinner Glenn Phillips.

Colin Ackermann (57) and Lewis Hill (56) supported the left-hander.

Group Two leaders Gloucestershire used seven bowlers and toiled for large parts as the Foxes closed on 357-5.

Overseas paceman Dan Worrall did give the visitors a late boost by bowling Hill before Harry Swindells and Ben Mike saw out the last few overs.

Harris and captain Ackermann had put on 243 in the last round of games as Leicestershire chased 378 to beat Middlesex and their stand of 160 this time around formed the backbone of the innings.

The pair had taken the hosts from 64-2 to 224-2 when Ackermann was bowled by Miles Hammond.

Harris' 236-ball innings, which included 21 fours, ended when New Zealand international Phillips (2-73) caught him on the back foot to leave Leicestershire 299-4.

But Gloucestershire could only capitalise with the wicket of Hill with Leicestershire now likely to make a big first-innings score.