Leicestershire v Essex: Foxes fold after James Foster century

Foster missed out on a century against Leicestershire at Chelmsford in May when he was out for 82

Captain James Foster scored his seventh County Championship century against Leicestershire as Essex wrapped up a two-day victory at Grace Road.

The 34-year-old made 132, including two sixes and 19 fours, to steer his side to a total of 334.

Seam bowler Rob Taylor took 5-67, but Leicestershire faced a deficit of 196.

Jamie Porter, Jesse Ryder and David Masters took three wickets each as the hosts were 117 all out in 38.5 overs to lose by an innings and 79 runs.

Porter did the early damage with a spell of 3-26, but it was Ryder, whose 3-40 gave him match figures of 8-90, and Masters (3-15) who polished off the tail as the last six wickets went down for only four runs.

Angus Robson (26) and Greg Smith (36) put on 48 for the first wicket, but Josh Cobb (37) was the only other batsman to reach double figures before he edged a ball from Masters and Ryder grabbed the catch at slip after Foster failed to hold the chance.

The victory moved Essex level on points with second-placed Hampshire, whose game against Kent is ongoing, and left the two sides facing a battle for the one remaining promotion spot in the final week of the season.

Victory should keep Essex in the hunt for the second promotion place, but they may rue failing to achieve maximum batting points, having begun the game 22 points behind Hampshire.

Essex captain James Foster told BBC Essex:

"There are a very chuffed set of cricketers and coaches upstairs in the changing room.

"We did everything we had to do. We were not expecting to win in two days but it is great and it is going to be an interesting final game.

"Jamie Porter did brilliantly, he set the tone for us and got the momentum going by picking up three big wickets.

"He is a superb bowler, he bowls from a really horrible angle if you are a batsman and has got really good control and discipline.

"If it was not for his spell it would have been a lot harder for us, so I am delighted for him personally as well. He is a young player who looks the part."

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Essex's Nick Gledhill:

"Another superb victory for Essex, achieved in even quicker time than last week against Kent.

"There were several similarities between the two games, not least a second successive match-defining century from James Foster.

"Leicestershire disintegrated from 113-4 as Jesse Ryder and David Masters routed the lower order, but it was Jamie Porter, playing only his second Championship game, who made three crucial top order strikes in an impressive spell to set Essex on their way.

"That's five wins out of six and the pressure is all on Hampshire."