County Championship: Joe Leach takes five wickets before Worcestershire hit back

Worcestershire vice-captain Joe Leach celebrated his second five-for of the season

Worcestershire ended the day still 67 runs in arrears against Leicestershire despite bouncing back well in the morning session at Grace Road.

Visiting vice captain Joe Leach ended with 5-99, including the wicket of Mark Pettini for 49, as the hosts, resuming on 253-4, were bowled out for 316.

The Worcester openers then put on 51 for the first wicket but were still trailing at the close on 249-8.

Ben Cox top scored with 49, while Brett D'Oliveira worked hard for his 47.

The in-form opener was dropped twice at third slip by Neil Dexter, once before he had scored, and again on three.

Record-breaking Friday night T20 centurion Tom Kohler-Cadmore also weighed in with a far more restrained 44, spread over almost two and a half hours. From 126-5, with Cox, he eliminated any danger of following on with a sixth-wicket stand of 77.

They ended the day just a run short of a second batting bonus point, with hopes of narrowing the advantage further resting on Matt Henry, who is not out overnight on 30, having so far put on 34 for the ninth wicket with Jack Shantry.

Leicestershire bowler Clint McKay:

"We didn't kick on this morning as a batting group, which was disappointing, but to have them eight down and still 67 behind means we're still well on top.

"It will certainly be tough batting on day four. The pitch is only going to get worse. They've dropped a few catches and so have we - that's partly down to the uneven bounce.

"When it takes the edge it tends to do so at pace, but the slips are standing up because of the occasional low bounce, so it's on them quickly and quite tough."

Worcestershire director of cricket Steven Rhodes:

"It was a really interesting day's cricket: 14 wickets fell, a big difference to the six that fell on day one. There was some counter-attacking batting too, especially from Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ben Cox and Matt Henry at the end.

"If you go back to the toss it was maybe a mistake on our part to bowl first, but we're not thinking about losing. We're thinking about winning, and the first thing to do is get somewhere near the Leicestershire total.

"Then we have to bowl and catch well. It's a result pitch, but there's every reason to think we can get back into the game. We need wickets like this."