Leicestershire CCC bowlers find it tough to press home advantage against Derbyshire

Leicestershire's bowlers had to work hard for the couple of successes they enjoyed at Derby yesterday.

After County had posted 412 in their first innings, Derbyshire replied with a steady 188-2 from 71 overs.

Harry Gurney was the only bowler with wickets to his name at the close despite the ball continuing to swing in the hot conditions.

There was plenty of playing and missing from the home batsmen and, on the occasions when Leicestershire did find the edge of the bat, the ball failed to go to hand.

Still, it looked as though it might have been an even harder day in the field when Derbyshire skipper Chris Rogers began his side's reply in real style.

County followers do not need telling what a fine player the Australian is thanks to his brief stint at Grace Road in 2005 and, after finding the ropes half-a-dozen times yesterday, he was on the brink of a half-century.

But, looking for more runs, he chased a wide delivery from Gurney and edged a catch behind to Tom New for 47 midway through the afternoon session.

At 60-1 Derbyshire then went into their shell, Steve Stubbings in particular barely able to get the ball off the square as County probed for another breakthrough.

He eventually became Gurney's second victim, trapped leg-before shortly after tea for 19 which had taken 110 deliveries to chisel out.

If County harboured hopes of knocking over the home batting at that stage, they were to be dashed by the diligence of Garry Park and Dan Redfern, who dealt capably with anything Leicestershire could throw at them. That included 14 overs of tidy left-arm spin from George Walker on his return to county cricket after six years away from the scene.

Park proved the major obstacle as Derbyshire's third-wicket pair added 85 before stumps, although he did survive a huge appeal for lbw from the last ball of the day sent down by Walker, having reached 70.

Redfern, who played with great confidence from the start, was unbeaten on 36.

Leicestershire achieved the minimum they were looking for when they resumed on another sweltering morning nicely poised at 341-5.

With James Taylor unbeaten on 86, County were looking for the 19-year-old to go on and complete his second century of the season, at the same time spear-heading the drive towards maximum batting points – and then some considerable way beyond a total of 400 to build a commanding position.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Taylor was able to add only three to his score before he was trapped lbw playing across the line of a delivery from Ian Hunter. It was one of the few poor shots in a 212-ball stay which indicated Taylor's growing maturity in the senior ranks. Walker was unable to make any great impact with the bat, adding three.

With Iain O'Brien following for five, it was left to New to ensure that the chance of maximum batting points was not frittered away.

He was not found wanting, continuing the encouraging form he has shown with the bat this season by taking his overnight 24 to 66 with some flashing shots to the boundary as the home bowlers continued to struggle with their line.

New was last man out, Stubbings holding a sharp catch high at slip as the left-hander slashed at a wide delivery from Greg Smith. However, with 412 on the board, Leicestershire had reason to be satisfied with their first innings.