Sheikh hat-trick sparks fightback

Leicestershire 246 for 2 (Smith 103, Robson 97) trail Gloucestershire 646 (A Gidman 264, Roderick 171, Sheikh 4-97, Freckingham 4-138) by 400 runs
Scorecard

Atif Sheikh claimed a hat-trick in only his second County Championship game for Leicestershire as they fought back on the second day against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The first of his victims was Alex Gidman, lbw for a career-best 264. The next two deliveries clean bowled Craig Miles and Liam Norwell, to the astonishment of players and spectators, who had seen the hosts romp to 591 for 6.

It was the first hat-trick by a Leicestershire bowler in the Championship since 2011 when Matthew Hoggard achieved the feat against Glamorgan at Grace Road.

Sheikh, a left-armer who recently earned a two-year contract with Leicestershire after a lengthy trial period, was making only his third appearance in a first class game, his debut having been made for Derbyshire back in 2010.

Gloucestershire still went on to post 646. But by the close the visitors had responded with 246 for two, Greg Smith making 103 and Angus Robson contributing 97 to an opening stand of 206.

The day began with Gloucestershire 513 for 5 and Gidman already on a career-best 221 not out. His brother Will had moved to 11 when he played across a ball from Ollie Freckingham and fell lbw.

Alex Gidman, who it was later announced would be leaving the county for Worcestershire, brought up his 250 with a pulled boundary off Rob Taylor, with the total 570 for 6. A further 21 were added before he was dismissed by Sheikh, having faced 274 balls and hit 38 fours and three sixes.

After the rapid departures of Miles and Norwell, Tom Smith and David Payne piled on the agony for Leicestershire, adding 55 for the last wicket before Smith was caught behind down the leg side off Freckingham for 49, at which point lunch was taken.

Freckingham finished with 4 for 138 and Sheikh 4 for 91. Soon those figures were being put into perspective as, after threatening with the new ball, Gloucestershire's bowlers found equally little in the slow, unresponsive pitch.

By tea, Smith and Robson had both reached half-centuries in taking the score to 135. Smith was first to the landmark off 80 balls, with 6 fours and a six, while Robson followed off 94 deliveries with eight boundaries.

The final session saw Smith dropped on 85 by Chris Dent at second slip off Norwell with the score on 153, while his 22-year-old partner, younger brother of England's Sam Robson, reached 1,000 first-class runs for the season with a boundary off Payne that took him to 86.

Both looked set for centuries. But Robson perished three runs short, sent back by Smith attempting a second run to third man and beaten by Ian Cockbain's throw to the bowler's end.

Smith did reach his ton off 170 deliveries, with 14 fours and a six, but the next ball saw him pinned lbw by Miles.

Talking about his hat-trick, Sheikh said: "The lads were telling me to try a short ball after I got Gidman's wicket, but I thought I would keep it simple and try hitting the stumps against nine and ten batsmen.

"That's how it worked out. I have never taken a hat-trick in any form of cricket before, so to do so when I am trying so hard to make an impression with Leicestershire is amazing.

"It took me a long period on trial to earn a contract, but now that I have two more years in which to improve my game I am looking forward to working hard and doing well for the club.''