Nottinghamshire’s bowlers shared the wickets around as they were given a valuable workout on the second day of their two-day friendly match at Leicestershire.

With each side batting for a day each, the visitors had ended day one having racked up 394-6.

On day two, it was the turn of the bowlers to get a welcome run-out after other pre-season friendlies since returning from the Club’s South Africa tour – against Northamptonshire and Cambridge MCCU – were completely washed out.

In slightly cooler and cloudier conditions, the hosts’ openers, like Notts had done before them, made good use of a well-prepared wicket to put on 73 for the first wicket.

Paul Horton was the first to go when former Leicestershire seamer Harry Gurney uprooted his off stump for 25 with a ball that held its line from around the wicket.

Neil Dexter came and went quickly for 5 as he fell victim to a superb caught and bowled by Mark Footitt, who took a sharp one-handed catch.

Former England player Michael Carberry put together an accomplished 52 from 96 balls, with six fours and one six, before he was adjudged lbw to Sami Patel when attempting to sweep, making it 108-3 just after lunch.

Mark Cosgrove was the next to go with the Leicestershire total on 139 as he aimed a swipe at Luke Wood but missed and was bowled for 20.

It was then that fifth wicket duo Lewis Hill (82) and Ned Eckersley (33) took control as the former, in particular, scored quickly, hitting 11 boundaries and one maximum.

After both players had retired, Zak Chappell attempted to take a quick single off Samit Patel but was run out without scoring and, almost immediately, Ben Raine was caught at backward point by Luke Fletcher off the same bowler as he mistimed a drive.

Fletcher – returning for his first game on English soil since the head injury that ruled him out of the second half of last season – then got in on the wicket-taking act as he pinned Dieter Klein lbw for 4.

But that was to be the final success of the match for Notts as Ateeq Javid (17 not out) and Callum Parkinson (57 not out) then put together a fine, unbeaten last-wicket stand worth 85 as Leicestershire closed on 349-9.

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