A century from James Foster and Chris Wright's career-best 6-22 helped Essex to victory by an innings and 74 runs inside two days at Leicestershire.

Foster's second successive unbeaten Championship ton featured 16 fours, and his 132 was his highest of the season.

Teenage debutant Jaik Mickleburgh got to fifty with a six off Sam Cliff as Essex took a first-innings lead of 228.

Half the Foxes side were out for 51 and even a robust eighth-wicket stand of 87 could not prevent an emphatic defeat.

It was 59-7 when Claude Henderson and Nadeem Malik began their partnership, but for 17 overs they swung their bats to good effect.

Wright came back into the attack swiftly ended the defiance as Malik was superbly caught at mid-wicket.

Cliff was bowled for one, and with Matt Boyce unable to bat because of injury, the match was over.