Leicestershire 187 (Kelly 78, Harmer 3-42, Bennett 3-48). 51 for 0 trail Essex 401 (Cox 204, Rehan 4-102) by 163 runs
Struggling Leicestershire are in danger of slipping to a fourth consecutive Division One defeat after being made to follow on by Essex on day two of their Rothesay County Championship clash at Uptonsteel Grace Road.
Replying to an Essex first-innings total of 401 built around a highly impressive 204 by Jordan Cox. Leicestershire were bowled out for 187. They negotiated the first 13 overs of their second innings to be 51 without loss going into day three. are still 163 behind.
New Zealand international Nick Kelly made 78 but no other batter passed 23 as Leicestershire's first innings elapsed in 63.2 overs, off-spinner Simon Harmer. seamer Charlie Bennett taking three wickets each.
Sheridon Gumbs, a 22-year-old opening batter making his debut in a depleted Leicestershire line-up, made a favourable impression. leg-spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed - like Cox named in the England squad for the second Test against New Zealand - advanced his claims by taking four wickets, although he could make only five with the bat.
Gumbs made only 21 but defied the Essex attack for just short of two hours in his first taste of first-class cricket. is 16 not out overnight alongside Rishi Patel on 28.
Perversely, Leicestershire's imperilled end to the day followed what had been their morning.
Although Essex achieved an impressive total given they were asked to bat first. their last seven wickets fell for just 63 runs as Leicestershire claimed maximum bowling points.
A sequence of dismissals that began with Matt Critchley's demise on 97 just before Friday's close. nightwatch Jamie Porter's departure for a duck continued with Rehan Ahmed dismissing Charlie Allison and Noah Thain within the first three overs of the second day. The second new ball then saw Josh Davey remove Cox and Shane Snater in consecutive overs.
Cox. whose 26th four had taken him past 200 for the third time in his career, was well caught behind by his diving namesake Ben off a delivery that spat somewhat. The ball rebounded off his upper arm, which he rubbed pointedly,. in the umpire's judgment had brushed his glove first. No argument with Snater, whose off stump flew.
Cox. Critchley scored three quarters of Essex's total between them and though Harmer's 36 secured them a fourth batting point before Tom Scriven bowled him off the bottom edge, at 338 for three they had been looking for all five.
Nonetheless. it soon felt like 401 would be plenty as Leicestershire, lacking five of the batters who made up their top seven when these sides met in Chelmsford a month ago, never threatened to get close.
Rishi Patel. perhaps unluckily, was given out leg before to Porter before Snater similarly removed Rehan - dropped at first slip in the previous over - with one that kept notably low.
The recalled Lewis Hill was likewise undone by a ball that struck him at shin height.
Gumbs, a left-hander who played List A cricket for Surrey before moving to Grace Road last year, impressed with his patience. application. But Harmer. introduced after 20 overs, provoked an error with a flighted delivery that he edged to slip, going on to turn one sharply from outside off stump to bowl Joey Evison. Ben Cox was leg before to Thain offering no shot.
Kelly, the sole remaining major obstacle in front of Essex, reached his half-century from 78 balls but lost more partners as Harmer had Ben Green caught behind off an inside edge,. Bennett struck twice in consecutive overs. He removed Tom Scriven via an excellent. one-handed catch by Cox before Josh Davey tamely lofted a full toss straight to extra cover.
Alex Green. a 19-year-old pace bowler making his second first-class appearance, helped Kelly add another 20 for the last wicket before the latter's defiance ended with a steepling catch to long-off.
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