COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Grace Road:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Leicestershire 368 and 49-5 Gloucestershire 138 (Leics 8pts, Glos 3pts)
19-22 August 2009

Harris' five-wicket haul was his first of the season in the Championship

AJ Harris took season-best figures of 5-26 as Leicestershire seized control on day two of their clash with promotion-chasing Gloucestershire.

The Foxes began by adding 36 to their overnight 332-8 to be all out for 368.

But Harris then took centre stage as Gloucestershire were skittled for 138, with only Chris Taylor (50) and Rob Woodman (31) offering any resistance.

Leicestershire opted to bat again but slumped to 49-5 in their second innings by stumps, still a lead of 279.

It proved to be a breathless day, with 17 wickets falling for 223 runs.

But it was Harris who proved the star turn as he claimed his first five-wicket haul for three years.

He picked up his first three in the space of 10 balls without conceding a run to remove Kadeer Ali with a yorker, Hamish Marshall lbw and Alex Gidman by removing his off-stump.

And after Jigar Naik had ended Taylor's resistance he returned to trap Steve Adshead leg before and bowl Ian Saxelby with a beauty.

But after opting not to enforce the follow-on, Leicestershire found batting no easier, as Steve Kirby dismissed openers Paul Nixon and Greg Smith, while Boeta Dippenaar chopped Saxelby onto his stumps.

Occasional bowler Marshall also picked up two wickets before the close, yorking Josh Cobb and trapping Tom New leg before.

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