County Championship: Wickets tumble on day one between Leics and Middlesex

Four more wickets tumbling in the first seven overs of the middle session as more edges flew to hand. Higgins had Goldsworthy snaffled by Du Plooy before Roland-Jones struck three times in as many overs.

Louis Kimber followed his epic, record-breaking 243 against Sussex last week with a 15-ball duck, caught at backward point off a leading edge, before Green edged to second slip and Ben Cox feathered one behind.

Middlesex were batting 12 overs before tea but were three down by the interval and 53-6 half an hour after the resumption, which made the 53 runs Leicestershire were able to add for their last two wickets look potentially invaluable.

Higgins dismissed Mike leg before and Henry Brookes had Matt Salisbury caught at third slip but Currie’s six boundaries gave their bowlers something to work with.

Mike found the edge to have Mark Stoneman caught at second slip in his first over and produced an inswinger missed by Sam Robson, before Green added to Middlesex’s problems.

Max Holden was caught behind off an inside edge from the Devonian’s second ball before his first two overs after tea included a near-unplayable delivery to bowl Higgins and one that took the edge of Josh De Caires’ bat to give Currie a catch at third slip.

Jack Davies was caught behind to give Green his fourth before Mike returned with three wickets in five overs, bowling Luke Hollman with a full delivery, trapping Roland-Jones leg before with a full toss, notching his second career five-for as Du Plooy fell for 28, bowled between bat and pad.

Salisbury completed the rout by bowling Bamber before the home side, batting positively, added 40 in nine overs with Budinger – who hit a six and two fours in his 18 – the only casualty.

Report supplied by the ECB Reporters’ Network.