Higgins' career-best rounds up Leicestershire

Ryan Higgins finished with career-best match figures of eight for 54 as Gloucestershire wrapped up a 328-run victory over Leicestershire at Bristol.

Beginning the final day on 117 for six, facing a target of 494, the visitors battled through the first hour without losing a wicket before being bowled out for 165, Higgins claiming four for 28 and Craig Miles three for 44.

Mark Cosgrove top-scored with 52, receiving decent support from Callum Parkinson (17) in a seventh-wicket stand of 29 that occupied 17 overs. But it was far too little too late as two poor batting displays saw Leicestershire comprehensively beaten. They took three points from the game while Gloucestershire claimed 20.

The home bowlers had to be patient as Cosgrove and Parkinson batted comfortably on a pitch still offering occasional lift off a length. Parkinson was struck a couple of painful blows during his battling contribution, which ended with the total on 141 when he fell leg-before to Matt Taylor.

Cosgrove had moved to a half-century off 115 balls, with 6 fours, and looked in little trouble until failing to get enough bat on a leg glance off Higgins and falling to a comfortable catch by wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick.

Gavin Griffiths went to a more spectacular effort by James Bracey at fourth slip, one-handed diving to his right, to give Higgins his eighth wicket of the match.

Bowling from the Ashley Down Road End and switching between over and around the wicket, the former Middlesex all-rounder again got the ball to nip off the seam just enough to cause problems.

The game ended shortly before the scheduled lunch interval in a big moment for 17-year-old Gloucestershire player Ben Charlesworth. Introduced for his only his second bowl in Championship cricket on his second appearance, the England Under-19 batsman claimed a maiden wicket with his first ball as Mohammad Abbas edged a big swing through to Roderick.

Dieter Klein ended up unbeaten on 17. Gloucestershire had outplayed Leicestershire in all departments, their batsmen showing more patience and their bowlers hitting the pitch harder.