Needham scythes through Leics

Jake Needham claimed career-best figures to spearhead a Derbyshire fightback against Leicestershire on the second day of the LV County Championship Division Two game at Grace Road.

The 21-year-old off-spinner took 6-49 as Leicestershire collapsed to 208 all out, losing their last five wickets for 33 runs and giving them a lead of just 14 runs.

By the close Derbyshire had cleared the deficit and gained an advantage of 71 runs with an unbroken opening partnership of 85 between Paul Borrington and Stephen Stubbings.

But it was Needham who claimed centre stage with his impressive spell of bowling which brought him six of the last seven wickets in a 21.2-over spell interrupted only by the lunch interval.

Before the break Needham sent down 10 overs, picking up the wicket of Joshua Cobb at a cost of 25 runs.

The 18-year-old batsman was caught by wicketkeeper Tom New, on loan from Leicestershire to Derbyshire, off a bottom edge as he tried to cut.

Steve Stubbings took few risks as Derbyshire looked to build a second innings-lead

The wicket ended a stand of 49 with Paul Nixon after Boeta Dippenaar and HD Ackerman had been dismissed in the space of three balls by Graham Wagg.

At lunch Leicestershire were 135 for four and there was little indication of the success to come for Needham when he was struck for six over midwicket by Nixon and Greg Smith reached the first championship half-century of his career off 128 balls with nine fours.

But with Smith on 54 and the fifth-wicket partnership worth 63 the England Under-19 international was bowled trying to sweep Needham and the collapse began.

Nixon, having made 46 off 73 balls with a six and five fours, top-edged a sweep against Needham and holed out to square leg. James Allenby soon followed, trapped lbw by Wayne White, and Needham then wrapped things up by taking the final three wickets.

Claude Henderson was lbw on the back foot, Garnett Kruger beaten by the flight and stumped and Sam Cliff bowled as he tried to drive.

Needham's afternoon figures were 5-24 off 11.2 overs, giving him a career-best return of 6-49 to beat his previous best of 4-81 against Essex at Chelmsford earlier in the season.

It was a disappointing end to the innings for the home side, who would have had visions of a much bigger lead than 14.

With the pitch still helping the bowlers because of variable bounce, Derbyshire openers Borrington and Stubbings took few chances as they battled their way through 43 overs before the close.

At stumps Derbyshire had a lead of 71 with Borrington on 34 off 141 balls and Stubbings on 43 off 118 balls, leaving the visitors in a strong position.