Seam trio take tally to 125

Clint McKay collected his second five-wicket haul of the season as seam bowlers dominated proceedings on the first day of the LV=CC game at Cheltenham.

The Victorian snared 5-59 and was well backed up by Charlie Shreck (19-7-58-3) and Ben Raine (20-9-41-1) as County claimed maximum bowling points in dismissing Gloucestershire for 218.

Leicestershire had a tricky 21 overs to face and ended on 56-3, captain Mark Cosgrove (26 not out) and nightwatchman Jigar Naik (1*) the unbeaten batsmen on their return to the side.

There had been overnight rain and plenty of cloud cover, so it was unsurprising that Cosgrove invited Gloucestershire to bat first after calling correctly.

By lunch the hosts had reached 85-3 having lost their top three of Chris Dent, Will Tavare and Michael Klinger to some excellent seam bowling, notably by McKay, who claimed two for 21 from seven overs in his first spell.

Dent (5) was lbw to McKay for five in the third over while Tavare (19) was caught behind by Lewis Hill off the same bowler from a delivery that left him off the seam for 15.

The prize wicket of Klinger, on 24, fell to Shreck, who squared up the Australian and found the edge of his bat for wicket-keeper Lewis Hill to take a second catch.

Gareth Roderick was patient in compiling 61 from 149 balls but he lost three more partners after the interval.

Ian Cockbain edged Raine to Angus Robson at first slip having hung around to make 5 off 49 deliveries, Benny Howell (1) was caught at the wicket to become McKay’s third victim while there was a first Leicestershire wicket for Cosgrove, who pinned Kieran Noema-Barnett (5) lbw.

Gloucestershire’s ‘keeper hit just four boundaries on the normally fast-scoring ground and was clearly frustrated by seam movement and some swing. Roderick eventually perished as he offered a low return catch to Shreck.

The in-form Jack Taylor hit five fours in his 28 but also departed to Shreck as Matthew Boyce took a terrific catch at cover on a return to his hometown.

James Fuller (41 off 49 balls) decided to play some shots and that move paid dividends. The Kiwi struck three fours and a six as he progressed to 21 by tea, Gloucestershire being 192-8 at that stage.

Fuller hit a further brace of fours and another six as he helped to record a batting point in extending the ninth-wicket stand with Craig Miles to 48 in the evening session.

Both batsmen then fell to consecutive balls from McKay as Fuller struck to Boyce at deep extra cover and Miles, having got himself on strike, carved to Eckersley at point.

The five-wicket haul was due reward for another display of skilful bowling and Leicestershire’s seam trio of McKay, Shreck and Raine now have 125 Championship wickets between them this term.

Fuller continued to cause Leicestershire problems as although the sun came out in the final session, the seamer had Robson (8) caught at slip before bowling Ned Eckersley (2) in a spell of two for eight from the Chapel End.

Skipper Cosgrove set out to be positive from the start and looked in less trouble than most batsmen but a smart bowling change accounted for Boyce, lbw for 18 in Howell’s first over with the total on 49.

Cosgrove and Naik saw the team through to stumps with Leicestershire trailing by 162 with seven first innings wickets remaining.