COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Grace Road:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Leicestershire 295 & 351-4 dec, Gloucestershire 159 & 78-5
Leics 5pts, Glos 3pts
Match scorecard

Youngster Greg Smith hit only 10 boundaries in his 324-ball innings

Greg Smith hit a career-best 158 not out to put Leicestershire on the brink of victory over Gloucestershire.

After resuming on 70, the ex-England Under-19s batsman helped his side move from 147-1 to 351-4 declared at Grace Road to set the visitors 488 to win.

Gloucestershire's run chase then got off to an awful start as Nathan Buck struck twice to leave them 5-3.

Hamish Marshall (45) and Alex Gidman (23no) steadied the ship but two late wickets saw them close on 78-5.

But it was Smith who did the groundwork to put his side in such a strong position with his maiden Championship century.

The 21-year-old Durham University student only joined Leicestershire in July but has made quite an impression in his four Championship games, scoring 405 runs at an average of 81.

606: DEBATE This is just about the lowest I have felt as a Glos supporter laughingnapoleon2

He was given ample support by Jacques du Toit, who finally fell for 70 after a second-wicket stand of 128, while James Taylor (36) and Paul Nixon (23) helped give captain Matthew Hoggard the luxury of declaring.

Gloucestershire's already difficult task was made almost impossible by them losing three wickets in the first 20 balls as Buck had Jonathan Batty caught at gully and Will Porterfield at mid-off, while Chris Dent bagged a pair when Hoggard pinned him leg before.

And their miserable day got even worse when Marshall was caught behind by Tom New trying to cut Claude Henderson after putting on 66 with Gidman, before Chris Taylor prodded a catch to silly mid-off off the last ball of the day, bowled by Jigar Naik.

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