County Championship: Craig Overton strikes twice to put Somerset on top against Leicestershire

Craig Overton struck three times in Leicestershire's first innings and has enjoyed further success in their second

Craig Overton's fiery opening spell put Somerset in charge as they heaped pressure on Leicestershire with three early wickets at the end of day two.

Overton removed both Harry Dearden and Marcus Harris with rising deliveries.

He then sent down six maidens in seven overs as the Foxes finished on 48-3 in their second innings, trailing by 37.

Tom Abell's 88, backed up by Steven Davies' quickfire 59, had earlier underpinned Somerset's total of 318 to ensure a first-innings lead of 85.

Resuming at 53-3, Somerset made good progress during the morning session, with nightwatchman Jack Leach (26) the only man to depart, bowled by Ben Mike.

A century stand between Abell and George Bartlett (48) brought the visitors within sight of the Foxes' total of 233 before Mike (3-50) struck twice in quick succession.

He denied the Somerset skipper a first ton of the season, having him caught at second slip for 88 before Bartlett, two short of his half-century, clipped one into the hands of square leg.

However, Leicestershire's hopes of minimising the deficit were dashed by Davies and Overton (24), who put together a partnership of 70 before stand-in captain Callum Parkinson (2-76) intervened.

Parkinson's left-arm spin accounted for both Overton and Lewis Gregory, but Davies completed a breezy half-century from 68 deliveries before holing out to leg gully off Gavin Griffiths.

Chris Wright (2-57) took advantage of the new ball to dismiss last man Marchant de Lange in the next over - but Somerset's opening bowlers also thrived when the Foxes' second innings got under way.

Josh Davey had the in-form Hassan Azad caught behind for a duck before Dearden (1) could only fend Overton's short ball to third slip and Harris (7) miscued a pull to square leg.

Somerset captain Tom Abell:

"I rode my luck a little bit in my innings but you need that sometimes. I guess you always want a few more.

"I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't take responsibility and take it on but my overriding emotion is that I'm very happy with the position we're in.

"Last night with us losing a few wickets the game was probably in the balance but I'm really happy with how it has gone."

Leicestershire's Ben Mike:

We felt we were a bit unlucky with the run-out and a couple of leg befores that didn't go our way in the morning session. But we came back well in the afternoon.

"I was pleased with the ball that got Tom Abell because I put a lot of effort behind that one and I was pleased to see Marcus hang on. Callum got a bit of turn too, which is a good sign.

"Batting again, it's not easy to come in with 20-odd overs to go against an attack of that quality but after being three down the boys battled really well, especially Rishi, who was playing golf when he was told to come in to replace Colin."