Leicestershire Complete Stunning Final Day Victory Over Gloucestershire

By Richard Latham, ECB Reporters' Network

Chris Wright and Callum Parkinson shared eight second innings victims as Leicestershire completed an unlikely five-wicket LV= Insurance County Championship victory over Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.

The home side looked on course for at least a draw when reaching 132 for two to build on a first innings lead of 18. But seamer Wright (four for 49) and left-arm spinner Parkinson (four for 63) then brought about a collapse that saw Gloucestershire crash to 202 all out.

That left Leicestershire needing 221 to win in a minimum of 47 overs. They needed only 41.2, 18-year-old England Test all-rounder Rehan Ahmed leading the way with a rapid 71 and Colin Ackermann making 78 not out in a total of 221 for five.

The visitors took 22 points from their second Championship win of the season, while their opponents, still seeking first success after being relegated from Division One last season, had to settle for six.

Gloucestershire began the day at nine without loss in their second innings, leading by 27. With only 14 added, Ben Charlesworth got a delivery that turned and bounced from Parkinson, which he edged to Ackermann at slip.

It was 47 for two when Chris Dent, on 21, fell lbw to a leg-stump yorker from Josh Hull. But Hammond survived a tough leg-side stumping chance off Parkinson before he had scored and grew in confidence to such an extent that it seemed he might even help his side set a challenging target.

A straight six off Tom Scriven was followed by a four in the same over to bring up the hundred, while at the other end Ollie Price was also looking in decent nick.

The turning point in the innings came with the total on 132 when Ackermann’s off-spin, introduced from the Ashley Down Road End, accounted for Hammond, bowled to end an entertaining 53-ball knock.

It was 136 for three at lunch, with Price unbeaten on 39 and Gloucestershire 154 in front. That became 144 for four when Price was caught at backward square sweeping a delivery from Parkinson, having hit 6 fours in his 96-ball innings.

James Bracey’s disappointing season with the bat continued when he was caught behind off Parkinson, also attempting a sweep, and when Graeme van Buuren, on 13, cut Wright in the air to backward point Gloucestershire were 162 for six.

Eight runs later Zafar Gohar edged a drive off Wright to wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb and the accurate seamer quickly followed up by bowling Danny Lamb for a duck with a beauty that pitch on middle stump and hit off.

Ajeet Dale contributed only a single before being caught at cover off Wright and Tom Price’s useful innings of 28 ended when he lofted a catch to long-on off Parkinson.

Gloucestershire’s last eight wickets had fallen for 70 in less than 19 overs. While the pitch was offering turn and occasional seam movement, it was a sorry effort.

Leicestershire openers Rishi Patel and Sol Budinger were soon putting the state of the wicket in perspective with a flurry of attacking shots.

As in the first innings, Patel looked in great touch, striking 2 fours in the third over, sent down by Gohar. By tea, he and Budinger had raced the score to 49 from eight overs and Leicestershire required a further 172 from 39.

When Patel fell quickly for 24 in the final session, pulling a catch to deep square off Akhter, his place was taken by Ahmed, promoted from the middle order to number three.

Budinger fell in similar fashion, caught at fine leg, top-edging a pull off Akhter. But Ahmed struck Gohar for a straight six to take the score past 100, having found a solid partner in the experienced Ackermann, who pulled a sweet four off Tom Price to bring up a half-century stand.

Ahmed moved to a fluent fifty off 61 balls, with 8 fours and a six, and Ackermann followed to the same milestone off 56 deliveries, with 8 fours, as the pair eliminated any doubts about the outcome.

Their exhilarating partnership had been extended to 141 when Ahmed skied a catch off Lamb with only 24 needed. Handscomb and Louis Kimber fell cheaply, but the Leicestershire dressing room was already celebrating.