Parkinson leaves Gloucestershire in a spin

GROUP Two leaders Gloucestershire are in danger of slipping to a second consecutive loss after Leicestershire took firm control on the second day of their County Championship match at Grace Road, writes Jon Culley.

After seeing their points advantage shrink when beaten heavily by Surrey last week, Gloucestershire were bowled out for 158 in reply to the hosts’ 451 as left-arm spin bowler Callum Parkinson – seemingly none the worse for a painful blow on the left forearm while batting – took five for 45 on a turning pitch with the added hazard of variable bounce.

Parkinson then struck again after skipper Colin Ackermann enforced the follow-on, having Chris Dent caught at slip in the last over of the day, and Gloucestershire will resume five for one, needing a further 288 to make Leicestershire bat again.

Only opener Miles Hammond, who made 67, offered profitable resistance in their first innings and there were three wickets also for Ackermann’s off-spin.

Parkinson’s figures were his best since he took eight for 148 against Worcestershire in 2017, his only other haul of five wickets or higher.

Resuming on 357 for five on the back of Marcus Harris’s 148, the home side achieved a first objective by taking their score past 450, rejecting the temptation to chase a fifth batting bonus point in favour of a more cautious approach. Harry Swindells made a useful 37 before nicking Tom Smith’s left-arm spin to slip. Ben Mike was trapped in front for 24, but it was only after lunch that the innings fell away, the last three wickets going for 15 in 29 balls.

Hammond, who had Chris Wright caught tamely off a full toss, took two wickets in an innings for the first time in a first-class match.

Opening the batting, Hammond began aggressively and the visitors raced to 48 from 13 overs before Ackermann struck with his first ball, turning one past the outside edge to bowl the left-handed Dent.

New man Glenn Phillips went after the off-spinner, launching a slog-sweep T20-style for his third boundary against him, but came unstuck against Parkinson, falling to a brilliantly executed catch on the run by Harris at mid-on.

Tom Lace, caught behind off Ackermann, Ian Cockbain, caught at second slip off Parkinson, and Ryan Higgins, bowled first ball by the Lancastrian, all went cheaply before Hammond fell to Parkinson trying a reverse sweep.

Smith was bowled by Ackermann with another one that did not bounce as anticipated, and after Jonny Tattersall miscued Wright to midwicket, Parkinson claimed his fifth scalp as Josh Shaw went leg before.