Four out of six teams of Group 2 were in action on Day 3 in the eighth round of the County Championship 2021. Let us have a look at how it went for them.
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire, Grace Road
Leicestershire 357/5 (Harris 148; Phillips 2-73) vs Gloucestershire
Marcus Harris continued his excellent form. His 148 on Day 1 put Leicestershire on top against Gloucestershire at the Grace Road. During his 236-ball innings, Harris smashed 21 fours before falling to Glenn Phillips (2-73). Leicestershire finished the day at 357/5.
Leicestershire had slipped to 64/2 after being opted to bat first. Harris and captain Colin Ackermann (57) then forged a 160-run stand for the third wicket before off-spinner Miles Hammond (1-29) bowled Ackermann. Lewis Hill (56), too, helped Leicestershire push the score past the 300-run mark.
Somerset v Hampshire, Taunton
Somerset 360 (Gregory 107; Barker 6-72) vs Hampshire
Lewis Gregory led a brilliant recovery while batting with Somerset tail-enders against Hampshire at Taunton. Gregory scored 170 runs, laced with 14 fours and two sixes, before falling to Kyle Abbott.
Earlier, left-arm seamer Keith Barker began with a magnificent spell of 4-7 in his first nine overs to send Somerset on back foot. Somerset were struggling at 43/5 before Steven Davies (47) and Tom Banton (45) rose to the challenge.
The breakthrough partnership of the day came for the eighth wicket, between Gregory and Roelof van der Merwe (88). The pair shared an excellent 171-run stand before Bradley Wheal ran out the latter. Riding on them, Somerset bowled out for 360 by the close of play. Barker finished with 6-72, while Wheal had two wickets to his name.