County cricket: Mixed bag as Hunter claims a five-wicket haul

A SECOND five-wicket haul of the season for Ian Hunter set Derbyshire up for a much better second day in their Championship match at home to Leicestershire.

The 29-year-old seamer had found the going as tough as anyone in a first day when Derbyshire allowed their opponents to race too far ahead of them.

But two early wickets yesterday gave him five in an innings for only the third time in his career and helped his side redress the balance.

However, Hunter, who finished with 5-82 in his 26 overs, knew it was not the smoothest of bowling performances.

"It was a bit of a mixed bag on the first day," he said. "There were some good balls and I struggled a bit after tea but I came back strongly and picked up a couple more to make five, so I was pleased with that.

"I don't think any of us put the ball in the right areas enough and we could maybe have bowled them out a bit cheaper.

"It swung a lot at times and didn't swing much at other times, so it was a bit tricky knowing where to put it and which line to start it off on but we got the job done in the end.

"We took the last five wickets for 71 and with the way the guys have batted, that has put us back in the game."

Leicestershire's bowlers also toiled on a wicket that is becoming slower but Hunter says the game is not necessarily heading towards a stale draw.

"You never know how it's going to play when it wears a bit," he added.

"There's a chance of setting up a game as well, so we just have to get as close as we can to them and if we can, we'll see what happens. There's two full days of cricket left."