Saxelby's best puts Gloucs on top

Ian Saxelby took career-best figures 6 for 48 as Gloucestershire dismissed Leicestershire for 162 in their County Championship Division Two match at Cheltenham. With day one washed out and no play possible until after lunch today, the tumble of wickets accelerated proceedings and by stumps Gloucestershire were 40 for 2.

Saxelby struck twice with the new ball and then claimed the last four wickets in 19 deliveries to ensure he bettered his previous best return of 6 for 69 and helped dismiss Leicestershire in 52 overs. West Indian batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan top-scored for Leicesteshire with 50 and his fifth-wicket stand of 57 with Matthew Boyce was the highest of the innings.

Gloucestershire were left with 18 overs to bat and lost Benny Howell and Dan Housego before the close.

After acting Leicestershire skipper Josh Cobb won the toss, the visitors were reduced to 13 for 3 inside eight overs. Saxelby had Greg Smith caught behind off a defensive edge and uprooted Michael Thornely's middle stump, before Ned Eckerlsey popped up a return catch to Liam Norwell. Sarwan, who played for Gloucestershire in 2005, and Cobb put on 48 for the fourth wicket before the latter sliced a drive off James Fuller and was caught by Ed Young at point for 23.

Three overs later, Young dropped a difficult low chance at point to reprieve Sarwan on 28 off Saxelby, and the Guyanese batsman continued his impressive run of form by progressing to a 94-ball half-century, which contained eight boundaries. He received good support from Boyce, who made 22 before he gloved the last ball before tea from David Payne to wicketkeeper Jon Batty.

The score slumped to 127 for 6 when Sarwan was bowled by a superb inswinger from Payne as he tried to work the ball on the leg-side.

Wayne White hit a brisk 22, but the innings quickly folded after he edged Saxelby to second slip, where Ian Cockbain took a head-high catch. In his next over from the College Lawn End, Saxelby struck twice in successive balls when he had Paul Dixey caught behind and Robbie Joseph taken at first slip by Alex Gidman.

With no addition to the total, Saxelby took his sixth wicket when Buck edged behind to give Batty his fourth catch of the innings. Buck had better luck with the ball when, in the seventh over of Gloucestershire's innings, Howell gave a chest-high catch to Smith at first slip. There was another wicket for Leicestershire to celebrate just before the close when Housego shouldered arms to Claude Henderson's off-spin and was bowled.