County lose despite Eckersley's efforts

Gloucestershire versus Leicestershire, Specsavers County Championship, Day 3:

SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo HERE 

INTERVIEW | Ned Eckersley spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae at stumps, the interview is available HERE

HIGHLIGHTS | The highlights of the third day are available HERE

RESULT | Gloucestershire (22 points) beat Leicestershire (3 points) by an innings and six runs

REPORT | Ned Eckersley put in an outstanding performance but it was not enough to prevent Leicestershire from suffering an innings defeat to Gloucestershire on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship game.

The wicket-keeper top-scored in each innings with 88 and 85, making 173 of Leicestershire’s 295 runs scored on the third day at the Brightside Ground, Bristol.

Eckersley added 63 to his overnight score in an eighth wicket stand of 89 with Richard Jones (23 not out) as County posted post 259 in their first innings in reply to Gloucestershire’s 466-8 declared.

Stand-in captain Phil Mustard enforced the follow-on and although Eckersley again led the way, the Foxes were bowled out for 201 second time around.

The home side were inspired by new ball duo Liam Norwell (match figures of 10-99) and David Payne, who accounted for five-sixths of Leicestershire dismissals given Colin Ackermann retired hurt in the first innings and was unable to bat in the second due to a hand injury.

There was a bad start for the Foxes as Clint McKay (8) opted to play no stroke to the second ball of proceedings and saw his off stump disturbed by Norwell, who took eight of the 12 Foxes wickets that fell today.

Eckersley looked in good order from the get-go, striking Graeme van Buuren for three fours through the off-side in the slow left armer’s first over of the day.

The batsman then completed his first half-century of the day by glancing Craig Miles very fine to the ropes - the eighth boundary from the 66th ball faced - before County registered their first batting point.

Jones, who suffered a blow to the helmet during the morning, played a really gutsy innings alongside Eckersley. Generally content to play a supporting role, Jones also struck van Buuren away to the fence, one of three fours in his 86-ball stay.

Eckersley and Jones extended their stand to 50 before Phil Mustard swapped left arm spin for left arm seam as Chris Liddle replaced van Buuren. 

The move did not have the desired effect from Gloucestershire’s perspective as Eckersley added another brace of boundaries to his collection while a set of four leg byes also arrived in Liddle’s opening over.

A single taken by Eckersley between two classic off side boundaries in the 70th over ensured Leicestershire banked a second batting point but the batsman was dismissed by the final ball of the over, Norwell hitting the stumps.

Gavin Griffiths (0) was then safely held by Chris Dent at second slip as Norwell completed his five-for, Leicestershire’s first innings coming to an end with Ackermann unable to return.

There was time for one over in the second innings before lunch was taken and Horton scored six runs off Payne. Leicestershire were trailing by 201 runs with 66 overs remaining in the day at that point.

However, the opener departed shortly after lunch without adding to his score, nicking a snorter from Payne to Mustard, and Leics were effectively reduced to 31-5 as Norwell took three quick wickets. Harry Dearden and Neil Dexter both edged to Cameron Bancroft at first slip having made four, and Mark Pettini (1) played on.

Captain Cosgrove struck five fours in posting 26 but he moved across his stumps by Payne and saw his stumps disturbed by a yorker.

Payne and Norwell then took a well-earned breather and the pressure was released, Eckersley and Raine both finding the boundary with regularity in a sixth wicket stand of 86.

Leicestershire’s ‘keeper struck the ball on both sides of the field, including a couple of classy drives through mid-on, while Raine went hard that anything that offered some width or was dropped short.

Eckersley posted his second 50 of the day with a thumping drive over extra, the eighth boundary of a landmark that came at a run a ball.

All-rounder Raine (42) struck two fours in the 27th over but was run out in the next offering. Eckersley turned the off-spin of Jack Taylor towards mid-wicket and Raine looked to pinch a single for his colleague. The striker remained in his crease and the left-hander couldn’t make it back to the bowler’s end.

County still required 70 to make their hosts bat again but McKay came in and put bat to ball, scoring 28 off 30 balls before tea, including a quartet of fours and a maximum.

The team went to the interval at 175-6 with Eckersley 63 not out but Gloucestershire claimed the final three wickets early in the final session.

McKay (29) added another run before edging Norwell to George Hankins at third slip, Jones (0) nicked Payne to a diving Mustard, and Norwell fittingly had the final say, Eckersley’s second valiant effort coming to an end as Taylor took a catch at deep point.

Leicestershire’s are next in action in the third Specsavers County Championship fixture of the season, a home game against Glamorgan on Friday (11am start).