GRACE ROAD

(day two of four; Essex won toss)

Lunch

Leicestershire 107 and 154 (C Henderson 50*; C Wright six for 22). Essex 335

Essex have moved into a dominant position this morning thanks to a fifth-wicket stand of 128 between Jaik Mickleburgh and James Foster. On his first-class debut, Mickleburgh, 18, reached his half-century with a six hooked over backward square-leg off Dillon du Preez. Shortly afterwards, he was leg-before on the back foot to Claude Henderson for an impressive 60, but Foster has continued to prosper.

Rarely looking troubled, Foster has reached an unbeaten 88 by lunch and will look to complete his hundred this afternoon. Essex are already 159 ahead and, with two days and two sessions still remaining, they should soon be pushing for a first win in four championship matches.

Tea

Leicestershire 107; Essex 335 (J Foster 132*; C Henderson five for 39)

James Foster duly completed his second hundred in consecutive championship matches with a composed, unbeaten 132. He was left stranded as Essex’s lower-order subsided quickly, the last five wickets falling for 79 as Claude Henderson, the left-arm spinner, took five for 39, finding turn and occasional bounce.

Nevertheless, Essex still have a first-innings lead of 228 and, although the wicket has calmed down a little since Leicestershire's first-innings surrender yesterday, the home side will have to bat much better if they are to stay in this game.

Close

They were not quite as feeble in their second innings as their first, but Leicestershire subsided in a session in their second innings to slump to an innings defeat. Chris Wright, the Essex seamer, could hardly believe his luck, taking six for 22 as the home batsmen succumbed to a succession of rash shots.

They had tumbled to 59 for seven in the first 27 overs until Claude Henderson and Nadeem Malik added an unlikely 87 for the eighth wicket. It was merely delaying the inevitable as Wright returned to take the last two wickets to boost Essex’s outside chances of promotion with their first victory in four games.