Seconds in control

Date: Thursday 12 May 2011

Leicestershire Second XI’s bowlers superbly backed up the efforts of the batsmen on the second day of the Championship game at Leicester Ivanhoe CC.

Leicestershire were able to declare overnight on 448-2 after the heroics of Josh Cobb (108*) and Matthew Boyce (201) and the team forced Lancashire to follow-on.

The Red Rose county closed on 147-4 after being dismissed for 138 and therefore ended a rain-affected second day 163 runs behind with six wickets left.

It was a good collective effort from County as the seamers did the damage in the first innings and the spinners excelled second time around.

Leicestershire bowled out the visitors in just 44.4 overs with James Hawley claiming 4-37 from 9.4 overs and Luke Radford taking 4-41 from 13 overs.

Harry Gurney and Jigar Naik took the other wickets to fall while Jordan Clark, who top-scored with 81 in their Trophy win on Tuesday, again led the way for Lancashire.

The youngster made 47 in the first innings and was unbeaten on 67 in the second knock as Lancashire made a better fist of things in the 48 remaining overs.

Although Clark again played well, Lancashire were still well adrift by the 7.40pm close as Naik claimed three victims. Academy slow left armer James Sykes took the other wicket to fall.

Leicestershire will now be hoping to keep up the good work and wrap up their first Championship victory of the season tomorrow (11am start).