Monday 1 June 2015 19:30, UK
Leicestershire are on course for their first victory since 2012 after dominating the second day of their match with Essex at Chelmsford.
Having bowled out Essex for 166, Leicestershire posted 280 in reply, Angus Robson leading the way with 120. And they have reduced Essex to 43-2 in their second innings.
Leicestershire started the day on 28-0, and reached 58 when they lost Matt Boyce for 21. Ned Eckersley (18) and Mark Cosgrove (24) got themselves in and out, and Graham Napier ripped out the middle order of debutant Andrea Agathangelou (1), Lewis Hill (2) and Ben Raine (1). Tom Wells (14) helped Robson get the Foxes up to 200, but then came a potentially match-winning partnership of 74 between the opener and Clint McKay (45) who counter-attacked superbly.
Both men and No 11 Charlie Shreck fell for the addition of six runs, but their lead was a healthy 114, and McKay then made an impact with the ball, removing Nick Browne for two. Raine then bowled Jaik Mickleburgh for seven to put Leicestershire firmly in control and dreaming of a first Championship win since September 2012 - 38 Championship matches ago - when they overcame Gloucestershire.
Jason Roy made a career-best 143 before rain frustrated Surrey's attempts to press home their advantage against Lancashire in Division Two.
Surrey are still in a strong position on 435-8 at the halfway stage in the battle of the Division Two's top two but they could have done without the rain and bad light after tea, which took 29 overs off the day's allocation after 50 overs had been lost on the first day.
Roy took full advantage as he became the first Surrey batsman to score 100 runs before lunch since Ian Greig went from 56 to 201 in the opening session in the corresponding fixture in 1990.
His second 50 was scored from 34 deliveries and he received excellent support from the in-form Steven Davies, who scored 86 as the pair put on 236 in 48 overs for the fifth wicket.
The new ball proved the end of both – Roy was caught at gully forcing off the back foot at Kyle Jarvis, while Davies, playing away from his body, followed shortly afterwards when he was caught at slip off Tom Bailey.
But Ben Foakes (60no), on his Championship debut after joining Surrey from Essex in the winter, and Gareth Barry soon regained the initiative for their side by adding 78 in 18 overs for the seventh wicket.
Batty (36) fell just before Surrey claimed maximum batting points when Jordan Clark got one to hold its line and Clark struck again in his next over when Tom Curran (6) was caught behind.
Glamorgan's bowlers made rapid inroads on an abbreviated second day's play in their clash with Northants.
Play was only possible before lunch at the Swalec Stadium, but after those 28 overs the visitors were left struggling at 79-5.
Even that came after a recovery of sorts, with Josh Cobb and Adam Rossington adding an unbroken 46 before rain stopped play.
The opening partnership featured five penalty runs, awarded when wicketkeeper Mark Wallace chased the ball to fine leg and returned to Colin Ingram, who had illegally put Wallace's discarded glove on to field the ball.
Michael Hogan made the initial breakthrough when he uprooted Peters' off stump with a ball that nipped back off the pitch, and he was quickly followed by Kyle Coetzer who chipped Hogan to midwicket.
Craig Meschede induced nightwatchman Azharullah to edge one to Jacques Rudolph at slip and then removed Rob Newton, caught behind. Rudolph then took his second catch in Ruaidhri Smith's first over to dismiss Rob Keogh.
Jack Taylor lit up an otherwise cheerless day with his maiden first-class century to give Gloucestershire the upper hand over Derbyshire.
Taylor made 120 from 139 balls to take Gloucestershire to 329 and Derbyshire closed day two on 77-2, 252 behind, when rain prevented any play after tea.
Mark Footitt took three of the four Gloucestershire wickets to fall to finish with 4-60 while Tom Taylor ended his namesake's excellent innings to record figures of 4-89.
Michael Klinger had started the day seven short of a century but he fell to the sixth ball of the morning when he edged Footitt into the gloves of Harvey Hosein.
Craig Miles (3) went in his next over, to leave Gloucestershire on 255 for eight.
But Taylor counter-attacked well, driving Tony Palladino over the top to pass his previous highest score of 63 and then pulling the seamer for six.
After a brief interruption for bad light, Taylor and David Payne continued to frustrate Derbyshire with Taylor launching Tillakaratne Dilshan for six before the new ball was taken.
Taylor reached his hundred off 122 balls before another short stoppage for rain, and the ninth-wicket pair took their stand to 74 before Taylor sliced a drive to third man, and Liam Norwell quickly followed.
Ben Slater, taken low down at second slip off Norwell for 17, and Chesney Hughes (9) fell in the Derbyshire reply. Billy Godleman (30no) went 48 minutes without scoring a run as he dropped anchor, and survived with Dilshan until tea, after which play was abandoned.
