Olly Stone rolled back the years with a vintage fast-bowling masterclass, putting Nottinghamshire firmly in the driver's seat against Leicestershire in their County Championship Division One clash at Uptonsteel Grace Road.
The 32-year-old England international, whose career has been repeatedly derailed by injuries, delivered a sensational spell of 5-41 on day two. It's his best figures for Nottinghamshire since joining from Warwickshire four seasons ago—and his first five-wicket haul since 2019. Stone has only played 11 first-class matches for the defending champions, but this performance showed exactly what they've been missing.
Leicestershire, promoted to Division One this season, closed on 220-8 in reply to Nottinghamshire's imposing 490. They still trail by 270 runs, with Stone's relentless pace proving too hot to handle.
Stevie Eskinazi top-scored with an unbeaten 44, while New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel chipped in with a gritty 38 not out. The pair offered some belated resistance, stitching together an unbroken 74-run stand for the ninth wicket. Earlier, Ben Green had impressed for Leicestershire with career-best bowling figures of 7-112.
Nottinghamshire were dealt a blow when Brett Hutton was forced off the field midway through his fifth over, leaving them a bowler short. James Hayes, who made his first-class debut on loan to Sussex last season, arrived before tea and fielded in the final session—though he has yet to be officially announced as an injury replacement.
Leicestershire's bowlers showed more discipline on the second morning than they had on day one, denying Nottinghamshire a fifth bowling point. Green, the only seamer to end the opening day in credit, picked up where he left off. He bowled Jack Haynes via a thick inside edge and produced a textbook delivery to send Kyle Verreynne's off stump cartwheeling. Liam Patterson-White and Hutton, both nicking behind, further boosted Green's tally.
With a lead of 270 and Stone firing on all cylinders, Nottinghamshire are firmly in control heading into day three. For the Foxes, it will take something special to claw their way back into this contest.