In the balance as Jordan and Jofra keep tabs on the Foxes

DESPITE bowling Sussex out for what looked a relatively cheap 262, Leicestershire couldn’t take advantage themselves with the bat, dismissed just 19 runs ahead.

Clint McKay’s 4-59 on day one helped skittle the hosts despite Stiaan van Zyl’s 49 but Leicestershire’s innings was much the same, if not slower, Lewis Hill also making 49. The visitors did squirm into a slight lead though, thanks to lower-order runs from Rob Sayer and McKay.

Leicestershire are looking to bounce back from an agonising two-run defeat at Northants last week, and McKay was pleased with the work of the bowlers after dismissing Sussex cheaply.

He said: “We had a great first day. After the disappointment of last week it was great to bounce back and I know all the boys were looking forward to coming here and trying to get back on track.

“We wanted to bat, it looked like a wonderful wicket so to come out and bowl them out for 262 was a great result from the bowlers.

“We knew it was going to be hard work, but the boys stuck to their plans and kept running in. The boys fielded really well too, the attitude was just fantastic.

“The pitch looks a bit dry and it might be an up-and-down pitch. It could be quite tough batting on day four, so you don’t want to be chasing too much.

“We got very close to chasing 390 last week though and our batting seems in good form.”

Sussex had got off to a promising start before wickets in consecutive overs, including Harry Finch for a duck, reduced them to 33-2.Van Zyl and Luke Wells then put on 41 before opener Wells was caught behind.

The hosts’ middle-order all threatened to fire, making confident starts, but wickets fell regularly and the innings was wrapped up inside 70 overs.

That gave Sussex a chance to make a breakthrough on the first evening with Leicestershire closing the first day on 77-2.

Their innings was a similar affair to Sussex’s with the top to middle-order all making starts but Chris Jordan (3-66) and Jofra Archer (3-51) kept a regular stem on the flow and Leicestershire were all out for 281, a lead of just 19.