County Championship: Ben Raine takes career best 5-48 for Foxes

Fast bowler Ben Raine has now taken 45 wickets in 19 first-class matches for Leicestershire

Ben Raine took a first-class career best 5-48 as Division Two bottom side Leicestershire took control over Essex.

The right-arm seamer bowled Jaik Mickleburgh, then trapped Tom Westley and James Foster lbw to put him on course for a first five-wicket haul.

Raine then saw Ryan ten Doeschate edge behind and Jesse Ryder hole out to deep fine leg having made 38.

The hosts were bowled out for 166, Jigar Naik taking 2-9 as Leicestershire closed on 28-0, trailing by 138 runs.

Rain delayed the start of play at Chelmsford before Aron Nijjar was handed his first-class debut for Essex.

The hosts were then soon in trouble as Clint McKay had Nick Browne caught by Andrea Agathangelou at first slip.

Ravi Bopara managed just four runs on his first County Championship match since returning from Indian Premier League duty.

A 54-run seventh-wicket stand between Graham Napier (29) and Matt Salisbury (24) helped the hosts past 150 before Naik took two wickets for two runs in 18 balls to put Leicestershire firmly in control.

Leicestershire all-rounder Ben Raine:

"I haven't had many five-fors in my life, coming from a batting background. So it's nice to get my first one for Leicestershire and I can only hope that it's the first of many.

"I'd roll that pitch up and take it with me everywhere I went if I could. This morning, the constant drizzle kept that bit of life in it although in the afternoon it got a bit better to bat on."

Essex head coach Paul Grayson:

"It was certainly a good toss to win and we would have bowled first had we had the opportunity. Credit to Raine - he used the conditions well."