Millns and Mullally send Leicestershire back to the top

Cricket: Leicestershire 159 & 150 Gloucestershire 71 & 136 Leicestershi re win by 102 runs

DEREK HODGSON

reports from Cheltenham

Leicestershire 159 & 150 Gloucestershire 71 & 136 Leicestershire win by 102 runs

What could have been a record-breaking Festival, with firms queuing to pitch marquees and the public all but clamouring at the gates in the heatwave, was ruined by Gloucestershire's puny performance as the home side were beaten inside two days.

As it has proved impossible to mount a a first-class friendly today in these all-singing, all- dancing, all-professional times, whoever turns up will be watching Gloucestershire's First XI v Gloucestershire's Second XI. "Not," as a press box cynic observed, "that the sponsors will know any difference".

A triumphant Leicestershire, who regained the leadership with these easy 20 points, will not complain. In David Millns and Alan Mullally they have possibly the fastest opening pair in their history, certainly the most effective since Graham McKenzie and Ken Higgs, and if the batting flickers intermittently, when it is in full flame it can burn out most rivals. Their fielding is Championship class.

With a Test-class spinner they would probably be favourites now, but as five of their remaining eight fixtures are at home there will not be many turning surfaces at Grace Road. They also have to play Glamorgan, Nottinghamshire and Durham away, not the most daunting of challenges.

They were the more positive team yesterday, from the very first ball, which was driven vigorously to extra cover by the captain, James Whitaker.Their overnight lead of 168 was extended by another 70 runs in another 31 overs to lunch. There was more haze and cloud but, paradoxically, the ball swung less than on the hectic first day.

By blocking one end for almost two hours, Adrian Pierson enabled his colleagues to score at the other and Gloucestershire had to set off after lunch seeking 239, not impossible on a pitch the visiting Test and County Cricket Board chief executive pronounced as "totally flat".

In fact Millns and Mullally were much too fast and straight for Gloucestershire. When they rested, at 32 for 2, Phil Simmons and Gordon Parsons rushed in. Monte Lynch earned a few scant cheers by clubbing Simmons for three fours in an over, but the resistance was short-lived.