Spinners Dominate as Northamptonshire Restrict Leicestershire
Northamptonshire’s spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Rob Keogh once again proved their mettle, combining to dismiss Leicestershire for 203 on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash at Wantage Road.
Chahal, the Indian leg-spinner, claimed 4 for 82, while Keogh chipped in with 3 for 20. Leicestershire opener Sol Budinger’s 56 was the only significant contribution for the visitors, who struggled to cope with the home spinners.
Northamptonshire’s reply reached 134 for 3 at stumps, with James Sales unbeaten on 34. Luke Procter (38) and Gus Miller (37) made starts, but both fell to Scott Currie, who picked up two wickets.
Leicestershire’s innings began with a duck for Rishi Patel, who was caught at point off Saif Zaib. Budinger and Ian Holland struggled against the spinners, with Holland falling to Chahal for 12.
Chahal was unlucky not to have Lewis Hill and Budinger dismissed lbw, but Keogh broke through just before lunch, castling Leicestershire skipper Hill for 32.
After the interval, Budinger reached his half-century but was soon leg before to Jack White. Louis Kimber was caught behind off Ben Sanderson, while Rehan Ahmed’s quickfire 30 ended when he was caught at long-off off Chahal.
Ben Cox and Liam Trevaskis helped Leicestershire reach 200, but the spinners cleaned up the tail on the stroke of tea.
Northamptonshire’s response started unconvincingly, with Procter edging Holland between the slips. However, the skipper soon settled down and scored at a brisk pace.
Procter’s innings ended when he was caught behind off Currie, who also dismissed George Bartlett for a duck. Miller looked set for a half-century but was given out lbw to Tom Scriven for 37.
Sales and Keogh guided Northamptonshire through to the close, leaving the hosts well-placed to push for victory on day two.
