County Championship: Rehan Ahmed puts Leicestershire on top against Derbyshire

England all-rounder Rehan Ahmed claimed career-best figures as Leicestershire took control of the County Championship match against Derbyshire on a record breaking day at the Central Co-op County Ground.

Ahmed followed his hundred on day one by taking 6-51 from 20 overs with his leg spin to bowl the hosts out for 189 in reply to the Division Two leaders’ 398.

Lewis Hill scored 151 and Peter Handscomb 101 but the visitors collapsed spectacularly to Luis Reece who took 5-12 in seven overs to finish with 6-56.

Leicestershire’s total is the lowest completed innings to include three centuries in the history of county cricket, beating 422 by Essex against Glamorgan at Swansea in 1995.

When they resumed on 357-3, their sights would have been set on 500-plus but they managed only 41 more as Reece ran through them.

Handscomb completed his hundred in the second over of the morning but then played at one from Zak Chappell that moved away to take the outside edge.

The rest of the session belonged to Reece whose relentless disciplined line was too much for the visitors.

Ian Holland edged a drive to be caught by Brooke Guest standing up and after Hill on drove Reece for four to reach 150, he pushed at the next ball and was caught behind.

Louis Kimber, having survived a hard head high chance to short cover, then drove an easier catch to the same fielder two balls later before Reece struck twice in an over.

Ben Green was beaten by swing and former Derbyshire bowler Logan van Beek was also snared at cover, the fourth Leicestershire player to be out without scoring.

When Liam Trevaskis was bowled by Alex Thomson in the next over, the visitors had lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs.