GLAMORGAN v LEICESTERSHIRE

Glamorgan start this game in fifth place in a quite congested Division Two, eleven points behind second-placed Leicestershire against whom they drew earlier this season at Grace Road. The Welsh county have been given a boost by the release for this match of Michael Neser from the Australian tour party following the end of the thrilling Third Ashes Test at Headingley, with the 33 year-old bowler, together with Club captain David Lloyd, returning to the Glamorgan side and replacing Andrew Salter and Tom Bevan from the team which drew against Sussex a fortnight ago at Sophia Gardens.

The Glamorgan team in full is DL Lloyd (capt), Z ul Hassan, SA Northeast, KS Carlson, WT Root, CB Cooke (wkt), MG Neser, T van der Gugten, JAR Harris, MJ Swepson and JP McIlroy.

Morning rain meant that the toss did not take place until 1600 with the intention of a start at 1630 with 32 overs remaining in the day’s allocation, but shortly before 1630, the light deteriorated and prevented a start being made. Rain started to fall at 1700 and play was called off shortly afterwards.

Morning update

Yesterday was only the second time this season that an entire day’s play had been lost and despite an unsettled forecast for the next couple of days, the players from both sides were able to warm-up from 0945 after the umpires - Paul Baldwin and Jack Shantry had inspected the outfield after the protective sheets and their accumulation of water from the overnight downpours had been removed. Everyone was set for an 1100 start with 104 overs to be bowled, but as soon as the umpires had taken to the field, a heavy downpour engulfed the Sophia Gardens ground and the umpires and players retreated to the Pavilion.

After an inspection at 1115, it was agreed that play would start at 1130 with 96 overs remaining in the day's allocation but after five balls from Chris Wright the rain returned as the hovercover and protective sheets came back on. After a further inspection at 1200, the umpires agreed to take an early lunch at 1230 but the rains returned shortly before 1400 and prevented a resumption.

Tea was taken at 1530 and with the rain having ceased, the umpires made further inspections at 1600 and 1645, before deciding that play would resume at 1730 with 16.1 overs remaining. Zain ul Hassan on-drove the first ball for four before David Lloyd unfurled a booming off-drive against Matt Salisbury. But next ball, the Glamorgan captain shouldered arms to the seamer and had his stumps re-arranged. Having been joined by Sam Northeast, ul Hassan square-drove Wright for a pair of fours as well as guiding him through point for another boundary.

Northeast then greeted the introduction of Tom Scriven into the attack by steering him through the vacant gully for four before punching Salisbury off the back foot through the covers for a second boundary. ul Hassan then crisply clipped Salisbury to the boards at mid-wicket before Northeast straight-drove the seamer for another well-timed four. ul Hassan brought up the fifty by firmly on-driving Scriven with Callum Parkinson bowling the final over of the truncated day.

Evening Update

Having made a century in his most recent innings for Glamorgan, against Sussex at Hove, Michael Neser was 24 runs away of completing back-to-back tons when the Welsh county resumed on 218-7 after tea, having already added 125 for the eighth wicket with James Harris. But in the second over of the session, Tom Scriven had an l.b.w. appeal upheld against the latter as Mitchell Swepson made his way to the middle.

Neser then clipped Scriven to square-leg for four before a drilled drive through the covers against Scriven saw him add a further three to his tally. After a series of singles, Swepson pulled Colin Ackermann to mid-wicket for four, before Neser deftly glanced the bowler to long-leg. Swepson then cut the spinner for four to see Glamorgan to a batting point before Neser reached his hundred by drilling Parkinson to mid-wicket - his 15th boundary and 147th delivery.

Swepson then lofted the spinner for four to long-on before the new ball was taken with Glamorgan on 278-8. Chris Wright and Matt Salisbury returned to the attack with Swepson unfurling some well-timed chips and nudges before showing great chutzpah by punching Wright off the back foot through extra cover for four. Some of this rubbed off on Neser who audaciously lofted Salisbury high over extra-cover for another boundary.

Swepson then reached a career-best 39* as well as seeing Glamorgan to a second batting point by lofting Salisbury over extra-cover before lashing him to third man and drilling the next ball to long-on prior to reaching fifty from 52 balls by pulling Salisbury. He celebrated by driving the bowler off the back foot through mid-off as the century stand came up off the next ball with a single to square-leg.

Swepson also on-drove Scriven for four but the haemorrhage of runs saw Parkinson’s spin re-introduced and he ended Swepson’s merry spree as he had the Australian stumped by his countryman Handscomb having added 123 in in 21 overs with Neser. Having been joined by Jamie McIlroy, Neser flicked Scriven to square-leg before lofting him to long-on to bring up the 350 and his career-best score.

He followed this up with a pair of on-drives before lofting Scriven for six into the Grandstand - his 181st ball to complete a maiden 150. He then drilled Parkinson to long-on for four before lofting Scriven to the mid-wicket boundary despite all nine fielders dotted around the boundary edge. McIlroy joined in the boundary-hitting by flicking Scriven to fine-leg before swiping him to mid-wicket. Neser then swept Ackermann for four before the declaration came at the end of the 98th over with Glamorgan on 403-9.

Rishi Patel began Leicestershire’s reply with a trio of off-drives for three, four and four against Timm van der Gugten and McIlroy with the opener adding another couple of on-drives for three against van der Gugten as Leicestershire ended a remarkable day on 28-0.

Afternoon Report

Having reached 86-5 at lunch, Glamorgan lost Chris Cooke to the first ball of the session as he departed l.b.w. to Tom Scriven with Timm van der Gugten joining Michael Neser. The Netherlands international duly on-drove Matt Salisbury for four but next ball he edged into Peter Handscomb’s gloves.

With James Harris as his new partner, Neser cover-drove Salisbury followed by a crisp straight drive against Scriven to take the Welsh county into three figures. He then clipped the seamer to square-leg for another boundary before Harris flicked Scriven to the ropes behind square-leg. Neser then deftly glided Salisbury through the gully before showing power rather than precision by swatting him through extra cover followed two overs later by another firm drive through mid-off for four.

Neser clipped Salisbury to square-leg for four to complete the fifty stand for the eighth wicket before square-driving the left-arm spin of Callum Parkinson for another four followed by a cover drive to complete a 61-ball fifty. Harris also thick-edged Wright for four to third man before dancing down the pitch to Parkinson and drilling him over extra-cover for four. Neser then square-cut Scriven for another coruscating boundary before edging Parkinson for four.

The century stand came up courtesy of a deftly placed square-cut by Harris against Scriven before the all-rounder leg-glanced Parkinson to see Glamorgan to 200. Neser then did the same to Colin Ackermann as the Foxes switched to an all-spin attack shortly before tea,

Morning Update

The start of the third day of Glamorgan's weather-affected LV=Insurance County Championship match against Leicestershire at Sophia Gardens has been delayed by overnight rain and further heavy showers this morning. Having made an spection at 1030, the umpires will look again at 1115. They then decided that play would commence at 1145 with 92 overs remaining in the day's quota but only eight balls were bowled before the precipitation returned with Glamorgan on 55-1 and a further two overs being shaved off the allocation.

When play resumed at 1200 noon Chris Wright bowled Sam Northeast with his second delivery with Kiran Carlson becoming Zain ul Hassan’s new partner with the opener nearly edging Matt Salisbury into Louis Kimber’s hands at third slip as the ball dropped short. But two overs later he was not so fortunate as Kimber, moving to his right completed a waist-high catch.

Three balls later 57-3 became 57-4 as Carlson lost his off stump as he played forward to Wright, with Chris Cooke joining Billy Root, with the latter square-driving Wright before guiding him to the vacant third man boundary. But Tom Scriven then replaced Salisbury at the River End and in his second over he found the edge of Root’s bat with Kimber completing his second catch, this time to his left. However, three overs later he dropped Cooke after Salisbury had switched to the Cathedral Road End.

Close of Play Report

Leicestershire were 228-2 at tea with Rishi Patel unbeaten on 125 and with just 36 overs remaining, it was only a case of how many more bonus points could be accrued by each team. Patel began by straight-driving Swepson for a pair of sixes and heaving Neser to wide mid-wicket to see his team to 250 and a batting point. But with Ackermann also showing positive endeavour, Swepson lured the latter down the track and had him stumped by Chris Cooke as Peter Handscomb joined Patel.

The opener completed his 150 from 210 balls by flicking Swepson for one before reverse-sweeping Kiran Carlson for four and pulling Harris for six. Handscombe also swatted Harris for four as well as cover-driving him as well as Zain ul Hassan when he returned. But the latter removed Handscomb who pulled a ball to Carlson at deep square-leg before bowling Patel for 179 as the visitors lost their fifth wicket on 331.

Some lusty swipes by Louis Kimber saw the Foxes to another batting point with the batter also lofting Swepson over long-off for six before pulling ul Hassan for four and six. He then harpooned Carlson for a pair of sixes to complete a 29-ball fifty before Wiaan Mulder reverse-pulled Swepson for four to bring up another batting point. But the leg-spinner then bowled Kimber with a cleverly disguised slower ball as Leicestershire lost their sixth wicket on 410.

Tom Scriven announced his arrival by pulling and straight driving Swepson for four before Mulder pulled Carlson for six. Scriven then swept Swepson for four before a no ball from Carlson saw the Foxes to 451-6 whereupon they declared and the game ended in a draw.

Afternoon Update

The brief stoppage for rain before lunch had seen a further four overs being lost whilst Zain ul Hassan also had an over at the River End. He duly continued when the visitors resumed on 124-1. Michael Neser also had his second spell at the Cathedral Road End. Hill square-cut ul Hassan for four to complete his fifty from 91 balls before Patel, who had been peppered by some short deliveries from Neser, hooked the Australian for six.

Hill also square-cut Neser for four with Patel pulling ul Hassan for four. Swepson then had a second spell in tandem with Timm van der Gugten at the River End, with the Netherlands international being steered through backward point by Hill before being punched for six off the back foot by Patel. The latter then cover-drove Harris for four before completing his hundred by late-cutting Swepson for four - his 153rd delivery.

Hill then drilled Harris through extra-cover for four but the bowler gained revenge in his next over as the visiting captain top-edged a pull to deep backward square-leg where Kiran Carlson completed the catch. 197-2 saw Colin Ackermann join Patel and began with a flat-batted drive through the covers against Swepson before Patel outside-edged Harris to third man.

Morning Report

Glamorgan’s recent Championship encounters with Leicestershire have witnessed some remarkable innings with Marchant de Lange blasting 90 from 45 balls to see the Welsh county to within four runs of a victory at Grace Road in 2018, whilst last year’s run-fest at the Leicester ground featured Sam Northeast’s monumental 410*. Yesterday afternoon the crowd at Sophia Gardens saw a deluge of 185 runs in 31 overs after tea as Michael Neser completed a career-best and unbeaten 176 during stands of 128 for the eighth wicket with James Harris plus an entertaining 123 for the ninth with Mitchell Swepson with Glamorgan dramatically recovering from 93-7 before declaring on 403-9.

The career-best efforts of Swepson - a man who in his 63 previous first-class matches had never scored more than 36 runs in an innings - also brought smiles to the faces of the home team’s supporters as, with great chutzpah, he made a personal best of 69. Today, though, it is the bowling of the Australian duo in which Glamorgan’s fans will be most interested as the home team seek a clutch of maximum bowling points with Leicestershire resuming on 28-0 and 96 overs remaining in the contest.

The pair were swiftly into action as Swepson bowled the first over at the River Taff with Neser bowling the next at the Cathedral Road End. It took the latter four balls before making an early incision as Sol Budinger gloved an attempted hook into Chris Cooke’s gloves. Timm van der Gugten then returned to the attack having changed ends as Lewis Hill and Rishi Patel accumulated chiefly in singles until Patel steered the Dutchman through extra-cover for four.

Jamie McIlroy then returned to the fray and was twice cover-driven for four by Hill before Patel cover-drove van der Gugten. Swepson replaced van der Gugten and was off-driven by Patel, before Hill slog-swept him for six to mid-wicket. James Harris replaced McIlroy at the Cathedral Road End and was steered through backward point by Patel to complete a 74-ball fifty. Hill had a second slog-sweep for six against Swepson to bring up the hundred before Patel punched Harris off the back foot through extra-cover.

Hill continued to hoist Swepson to the mid-wicket ropes, this time for four, but with the total on 118-1 a heavy shower descended over the ground and set the players scurrying to the pavilion.