Josh Thomas Century Puts Somerset in Control at Leicestershire

Josh Thomas scored his third century of the season as County Championship Division One leaders Somerset closed a weather-shortened first day on 354-9 against Leicestershire at Grace Road. The ECB Reporters' Network, published by BBC Sport, reported that Somerset made the total after being asked to bat, with Leicestershire yet to begin their first innings.

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The opening session was lost to the weather, but Thomas and Tom Lammonby quickly established control when play began. The two left-handers shared an opening partnership of 181, with Lammonby contributing 74. Somerset reached 173 without loss from 33 overs by tea against a Leicestershire seam attack missing leading wicket-takers Ben Green and regular captain Ian Holland, as well as three other seamers.

Lammonby fell three overs after the interval, caught at wide third man from Alex Green's bowling. Archie Vaughan then made 21 before Nathan Gilchrist, who joined Leicestershire on loan from Warwickshire on Monday, trapped him leg before wicket. Thomas reached 100 from 152 balls with a single after hitting his 15th four, but was bowled without adding another run when he left a Ben Mike delivery that moved back into his off stump.

Leicestershire's bowlers produced a sustained recovery after tea and collected full bowling bonus points. Gilchrist finished the day with 2-65, Ajaz Patel took 2-80 and Mike returned 2-109. Henry Nicholls was run out after a mix-up with James Rew, while Craig Overton edged Mike to substitute wicketkeeper Jonny Tattersall after Ben Cox left the field feeling unwell. Lewis Gregory, Jack Leach and Migael Pretorius also departed during the late sequence of wickets.

Rew remained unbeaten on 52 and helped Somerset secure three batting bonus points. The visitors ended the day with three points, the same number as Leicestershire. Thomas, 21, now has 760 red-ball runs this season, with his latest hundred following centuries against Yorkshire and Essex.

The match carries consequences at both ends of Division One. Somerset moved into first place with an innings victory over Glamorgan in their previous match and are pursuing the first top-flight red-ball championship in the county's history. Leicestershire remain in the bottom two and learned before play that they had been charged over the pitch used for last month's win against Glamorgan. They could lose the 19 points earned in that match if their appeal is unsuccessful, with two rounds remaining after the current fixture.