PROMOTION-chasing Worcestershire are closing in on a third successive win in County Championship Division Two.

The hosts achieved their first objective of the third day by securing maximum batting points after extending their first-innings total from 270-4 to 493 all out despite spinner Callum Parkinson's 8-148 from 45 overs.

Then the new-ball attack of County skipper Joe Leach and Josh Tongue quickly made significant inroads into the Leicestershire batting line-up as their opponents, facing a first-innings deficit of 89, were reduced to 10-4 inside five overs.

Tongue inflicted the initial damage in having Ned Eckersley (0) and Colin Ackerman (4) caught behind.

Leach trapped skipper Mark Cosgrove (0) lbw and bowled Michael Carberry (1) after he offered no stroke.

It took Leach’s wicket tally for the campaign to 63 just two short of his best haul last summer while Tongue has 45 victims.

First innings century-maker Neil Dexter and Aadil Ali tried to repair the damage and kept the County attack at bay for 18 overs.

But Ed Barnard inflicted further damage as Ali (24) was lbw after a partnership of 49 with Dexter who then succumbed lbw to Ravichandran Ashwin for 48.

The Indian spinner then struck in the final over of the day as Ben Raine (10) edged to Daryl Mitchell at second slip.

Leicestershire closed on 111-7 for a lead of 22 with three wickets left going into the final day.

The second-placed County began the match 36 points ahead of Northamptonshire and Sussex, who both have a game in hand, and are on course for a maximum haul to strengthen their hopes of a return to Division One.

Parkinson quickly added to his overnight three wickets by having nightwatchman Tongue (10) stumped and Brett D’Oliveira (138) caught and bowled off a leading edge after adding 17 to his overnight 121.

The opener struck one six and 13 fours in his 188-ball innings.

But then the County middle and lower order again came to the fore in ensuring all five batting points were safely secured.

Ben Cox had a let-off on nine when Eckersley at second slip spilled a straightforward chance off Dieter Klein. 

The wicketkeeper-batsman and Ashwin plundered 67 in 10 overs mainly from the second new ball.

Parkinson returned and accounted for Ashwin (44) who was caught low down at cover.

Barnard (20) also provided a staunch ally for Cox in adding 63 more and passing 500 Championship runs in a season which has also yielded 43 wickets. 

He was caught behind off Raine and then Parkinson tidied up the innings as Leach (28) was caught and bowled and Cox’s fine knock ended on 77 from 107 balls as he holed out to mid off.