Clarke stars for Surrey

Clarke tormented Leicestershire in both innings

County Championship D1, Leicester, day two (close): Surrey 501 v Leicestershire 127-7

Match scorecard

Rikki Clarke shone with bat and ball as Surrey tightened their grip at Leicester.

Clarke scored 139, his highest score of the season and fourth first-class century, to lead the reigning champions to a big total.

The all-rounder then grabbed three wickets as the hosts plunged to 98-5 at tea.

It got no better after the interval for Leicestershire, and when Tim Murtagh (3-31) took two quick wickets the follow-on looked miles away.

Bad light stopped play shortly after skipper Phil DeFreitas was bowled by Murtagh for four, and it seems the elements are the hosts' only hope if Surrey are not to record the win that will keep them at the top of the table.

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Leicestershire: J K Maunders, D L Maddy, B J Hodge, J L Sadler, P A Nixon, D G Brandy, J N Snape, P A J DeFreitas (capt), V C Drakes, D D Masters, C E Dagnall.

Surrey: I J Ward, J N Batty, M R Ramprakash, G P Thorpe, R Clarke, A J Hollioake (capt), Azhar Mahmood, I D K Salisbury, Saqlain Mushtaq, J Ormond, T J Murtagh.

Umpires: D J Constant, N G Cowley.