Leicestershire Vs. Lancashire LVCC day two.

Lancashire edge second day at Grace Road.

Luke Procter made 67 in Lancashire's first innings.

Thanks to late wickets at Leicestershire, the Division Two leaders were able to clinch the second day despite a heavy delay for rain that threatened to ruin the efforts they had made in their first innings.

The visitors first innings total of 380 proved to be a daunting one for the Leicestershire, who currently occupy the bottom of the table and are without a win in their first ten matches.

Leicestershire closed on 127-7, a total which surely leaves Lancashire the stronger side, with the hosts still 101 runs away from avoiding the follow-on. 

Luke Procter added 30 more to his overnight score of 37 not out, before he was the seventh Lancashire wicket to fall - giving James Sykes his only wicket of the innings. 

Further contributions from Gareth Cross (33) helped the visiting side past 350 inside 110 overs - but the efforts of Oliver Freckingham were able to salvage a small amount of pride as the pace bowler finished with figures of 4-85. 

Freckingham removed Lancashire's last three wickets, including Cross and the captain Glen Chapple (4), giving Leicestershire a chance to turn the match around.

But, rather typically, the hosts capitualted either side of a rain delay, falling to 46-4 after such a short amount of their first innings. 

Greg Smith gave the dangerous Kyle Hogg his first of two wickets and Michael Thornley's dismissal rewarded Tom Smith for his efforts in the 17th over with the score at 33-2.

Further wickets removed Ned Eckersley and captain Matthew Boyce and the departure of the latter was followed by a heavy rain delay, which caused 13 overs to be lost.

The loss of Niall O'Brien proved to be key, as the wicket-keeper had made 41 in a 65-run stand with Shiv Thakor (34), with the hosts now stumbling to 111-5. 

With just a handful of deliveries left in the day, Lancashire kept their focus, taking two late wickets to maintain their hold on the match. 

Thakor and debutant Thomas Wells both fell with the score on 127 and no further runs were added before Lancashire closed in the ascendancy.