Essex eye slim day-two advantage

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Chelmsford (Day one, close): Leicestershire 159 v Essex 134-8

Scorecard

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Day one of Essex and Leicestershire's clash at Chelmsford was characterised by poor batting from both sides.

After electing to bat first, the visitors slumped to 4-4 with David Masters, playing against his former county, taking a career-best 6-24.

Former England wicket-keeper Paul Nixon saved Leicestershire's blushes with 57 as his side were bowled out for 159.

In reply, Nadeem Malik took 5-33 before Tony Palladino and James Middlebrook lead Essex to 124-8 at the close.

Despite the fall of 18 wickets for 293 runs on the day, the pitch was not as bad the figures would suggest.

Masters collected three wickets in each of his two spells, his first two victims Hylton Ackerman and Tom New falling in his second over.

With new-ball partner Palladino also making an immediate impact by removing Matthew Boyce and Boeta Dippenaar, Leicestershire had lost their first four wickets with only four runs on the board.

Jim Allenby fell to Masters before Nixon and Jacques du Toit put together the one substantial partnership of the day.

It yielded 86 in 19 overs before Nixon dragged on against Palladino having made 57 from 90 balls with the help of nine fours and a six. Masters returned to the attack and picked up three more wickets in a five-over spell, including that of du Toit, who was trapped lbw for a 43.

Palladino finished with 3-33 while Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria, making his first appearance of the summer, brought the innings to a close by removing Garnett Kruger lbw.

Essex did not enjoy the best of starts to their response, losing two wickets in the fourth over as Jason Gallian edged a Dillon du Preez behind and the next delivery saw Dippenaar catch Ravi Bopara at first slip off Malik.

Malik spell of four wickets in 18 deliveries for one run left Essex reeling at 61-6.

But Middlebrook combined watchful defence with occasional aggression and his disciplined approach has so far brought him 36 runs and left Essex well placed to take a first-innings lead.