Bowlers give Foxes the upper hand

A disciplined bowling performance from Leicestershire gave them the initiative on the opening day at Worcestershire.

Vikram Solanki hit 65 and Ben Smith 49 against his former county but the hosts only held the upper hand when they added 96 for the third wicket.

Slow left-armer Claude Henderson (2-36) removed both and Jim Allenby chipped in with three lower-order wickets.

Steven Davies ended on a battling 50 in a score of 258-7 but the Foxes will probably be the happier of two teams.

A bright day greeted the first action at New Road since the floods of last June.

Garnett Kruger struck two early blows by having Daryl Mitchell caught behind off the inside edge and bowling Stephen Moore.

Solanki and Smith steadied the home side and looked in control for 31 overs until Henderson trapped the latter lbw with a quicker ball and Solanki chipped the spinner to mid-on.

Allenby then embarked on a golden spell, having Moeen Ali caught behind, Gareth Batty at slip and bowling Kabir Ali.

Davies showed the patience required on a slow wicket, however, and had an able ally in Gareth Andrew (18no) as the duo frustrated the visitors.

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