Close of Play Report

With Joey Evison having departed to the final ball before the interval, it was Harry Swindells who joined Wiaan Mulder when play resumed with Leicestershire on 250-5. Mulder swatted another full toss from Ingram for four to backward square-leg before Swindells square-drove Harris for four. Mulder then pulled Salter for four before cover-driving and pulling Lloyd for further boundaries prior to lofting Salter to long-on to complete his hundred from 117 balls.

Having struck 16 fours, Mulder added two more in successive balls from Lloyd as he flicked him to fine-leg before unleashing a coruscating drive to mid-off. Swindells then square-cut Salter before Mulder on-drove Ingram. Glamorgan then took the new ball after 81 overs with the home side on 338-5 with Neser and Hogan having another salvo. Mulder clipped Hogan to fine-leg before surviving a sharp chance in the covers. Swindells then square-drove Neser before Mulder did the same to Harris.

Swindells then guided Neser to backward point for another four before square-driving Harris to complete an 87-ball fifty

Teatime Report

Leicestershire resumed on 128-1 after lunch, but within three overs they had slipped to 136-3 as Michael Hogan returned at the Bennett End and in consecutive deliveries removed Louis Kimber and Colin Ackermann – who last week completed a career-best double ton - as both edged deliveries into Chris Cooke’s gloves. Lewis Hill got the scoreboard moving again by cover-driving the veteran seamer.

Wiaan Mulder then on-drove and pulled successive balls from Hogan for four before edging the bowler and seeing the ball spill out of the keeper’s gloves. He celebrated his good fortune by clipping Lloyd to square-leg for four, shortly after Hill had deftly glanced the visiting captain to fine-leg. Mulder then greeted the return of Neser by crisply on-driving him for four before also flicking him to the ropes at long-leg.

Hill also cover-drove Neser before Mulder greeted the return of Harris at the Bennett End by punching him off the back foot through point. But with the total on 214, Hill tried to force Salter off the back foot and edged into Cooke’s gloves with his departure seeing loanee Joey Evison, who last week played for Nottinghamshire at Cardiff, make his way to the middle.

Shortly afterwards, Mulder completed his half-century by pulling Salter for four prior to unfurling another booming cover drive when Hogan returned to the fray at the Bennett End. Mulder also drilled Salter to long-off for four shortly before the interval but for the final over of the session, Colin Ingram replaced Salter and with his first ball – a full toss – Evison swatted him into Neser’s hands at deep mid-wicket.

Lunchtime Report

The Welsh county began this match in third place in the Division Two table, just a point behind Middlesex in second place, after their stirring draw last week against leaders Nottinghamshire at Cardiff. The same eleven took to the field this morning at Leicester against a side which had been in record-breaking mode as last week, against Sussex at Hove, with their highest-ever total of 756-4 with double-centurions Colin Ackermann and Wiaan Mulder also sharing an unbroken stand of 477.

Louis Kimber and Rishi Patel opened the batting against the two Michael’s – Messrs Hogan and Neser – with Patel off-driving Neser for four before Kimber straight-drove him for another four. He also off-drove Hogan before pulling Neser for four, followed by a firmly struck on-drive. Patel then flicked Hogan to square-leg before thwacking him to the boards at mid-wicket.

With the total on 43 David Lloyd then replaced Neser at the Bennett End and with his third delivery found the edge of Patel’s bat with Sam Northeast diving forward at second slip to complete the catch. Having been joined by Lewis Hill, Kimber cover-drove James Harris’ first ball before Hill square-cut and square-drove him for a trio of boundaries.

Hill continued his assault on Harris by cover-driving successive balls before Andrew Salter entered the attack in the 18th over. Hill also square-drove Lloyd before Kimber reached his fifty from 68 balls by off-driving Salter for six. He celebrated by driving Neser through extra-cover for four

Evening Update

Glamorgan resumed after tea on 35-2 with Sam Northeast twice steering Wiaan Mulder for four to third man before crisply on-driving him for another boundary. He also flicked Wright to backward square-leg before clipping Mulder to the boards at mid-wicket as well as drilling him through extra-cover.
Ingram also square-drove Ben Mike for four before Northeast plundered two further fours against Mike. Ingram then clipped Mike for four to fine-leg to bring up the hundred before Northeast completed his fifty from 68 balls. With the floodlights having been on all day, it got very gloomy around 17.45pm with the umpires taking the players off the field for bad light.

Teatime Report

Roman Walker brought up Leicestershire’s 500 in the opening over after lunch as he on-drove Michael Hogan with the boundary taking the home team past their previous highest at Grace Road made in 2014 when they amassed exactly 500. Two overs later Hogan might have dismissed Mike who, on 70, miscued a drive to mid-on where James Harris spilled the chance. Next over, he on-drove Hogan for four before Walker straight drove Andrew Salter with the fierce blow nearly decapitating umpire Nigel Llong who dived out of the way.

Mike brought up the century stand by outside-edging Salter to third man before pulling Harris and on-driving Salter for further boundaries as he approached his maiden century. But later in the over, he departed for 91 as he attempted another lusty blow but holed out to Michael Neser at long-on. 535-8 saw the arrival of Callum Parkinson in the middle with the home captain being struck on his helmet by Harris with Parkinson continuing his innings after the concussion protocols had been completed by the medical staff.

However with the total on 539 Parkinson edged Salter with David Lloyd taking a fine one-handed catch diving to his right at slip. With Chris Wright as his final partner, Walker swatted Harris for four and one to complete his maiden fifty from 79 balls as he became the sixth player to reach the half-century mark. Wright then swept Salter for a pair of fours before Walker flat-batted Colin Ingram for four.

Wright also swept Salter for six before cheekily reverse-sweeping him for another boundary, but the off-spinner ended the innings as Walker spliced a drive to Billy Root at backward point as Leicestershire ended on 584 – their second highest total against the Welsh county and surpassed only by their score of 588 at Sophia Gardens in 2001.

Glamorgan had ten overs to face before tea with David Lloyd edgingthe first ball to third slip where Louis Kimber took a fine one-handed catch diving to his right only for umpire Paul Baldwin to call no-ball. However, three overs later, Kimber repeated the feat, this time off a legitimate delivery from Walker as one North Walian dismissed another. 5-1 then became 9-2 as Eddie Byrom edged Wright to first slip where Rishi Patel completed a regulation catch. Sam Northeast responded by cover-driving Wright for four with Colin Ingram then off-driving Walker to the ropes for a trio of fours.

Lunchtime Report

Leicestershire enjoyed, by far, the better of the opening day of this contest on a seemingly batter-friendly surface, as they reached 387-5 by the close of play with Wiaan Mulder, on the back of a double-hundred last week, unbeaten on 147. Last week at Hove, the South African posted a double-hundred, whilst yesterday he survived a couple of half-chances – on 17 and 128 – to guide his team into a decent position.

It was overcast this morning at Grace Road, and sufficiently gloomy for the floodlights to be on when play resumed at 1100. Michael Hogan resumed at the Bennett End and with his third delivery, the veteran found the edge of Harry Swindells’ bat with Chris Cooke completing another regulation catch. Having been joined by Ben Mike, Mulder completed his 150 from 183 balls before savagely square-cutting Hogan for four.

Mike on-drove Hogan for four as well as flicking him to fine-leg and on-driving him for further boundaries but, with the total on 420, Neser bowled Mulder for 156. Roman Walker replaced him and began with an off-driven three. The North Walian bowler then faced someone else with strong associations with Wrexham as David Lloyd returned to the attack at the Bennett End.

James Harris also returned at the Pavilion End and was cover-driven with gusto by Walker before switching end as Andrew Salter entered the fray and was plonked over long-on for six by Mike. The all-rounder then had a life as he miscued a hook with the ball bisecting the fielders at deep square-leg and long leg. Shortly after, he pulled Harris for an all-run four to complete his fifty from 75 balls.

Kiran Carlson then had a trundle as Glamorgan switched to an all-spin attack with Mike pulling him for four before Colin Ingram’s wrist spin was also employed for the final over of the session.

Evening Report

There had been many collective records set by Glamorgan but when play resumed after tea with the Welsh county on 345-5, Sam Northeast was thirty one runs away from passing his career-best score in first-class cricket, complied in 2016 when he made 191 for Kent against Derbyshire at Canterbury. Chris Wright and Wiaan Mulder continued the bowling with Chris Cooke square-driving Wright for four.

With Glamorgan on 371-5 Louis Kimber at second slip dropped an edge from Cooke’s bat – his second life off Mulder as before tea the ball had evaded Swindells’ gloves – much to the angst of the bowler. Northeast continued his steady accumulation by pulling Ben Mike for three before befitting from overthrows as he was credited with an all-run six. Northeast then equalled his career-best score by square-cutting Joey Evison before reaching uncharted territory by nurdling the bowler for another single.

Northeast celebrated by flicking Ben Mike to fine-leg for four before Cooke saw Glamorgan to another batting point as they reached the 400-mark. Cooke also punched Roman Walker square of the wicket for four before Northeast completed his double-hundred by on-driving Parkinson for four – his 22nd boundary and 287th delivery. He celebrated by dispatching a pair of short balls from Walker for successive fours.

After helping Glamorgan avoid the follow-on, Northeast pulled Parkinson for four as the 450 came up in the 113th over, before Northeast off-drove Evison to beat the 230* which Steve James made at Grace Road in 1995 as the highest Championship score for the Welsh county against the East Midlands outfit. Northeast then greeted the return of Ackermann to the attack by pulling successive balls for four followed by an exquisite cover drive for a third successive boundary.

Another firmly-struck on-drive saw Northeast reach his 250 from 320 balls before flat-batting Ackermann for another four. He then drilled Parkinson to the ropes at mid-wicket to bring up the 500. Cooke then completed his fifty from 101 balls before Northeast drilled another ball from Ackermann through the covers for four. Cooke also delicately late-cut Ackermann for four before Northeast scored his 1,000th run of the season by cover-driving Parkinson for one.

A deft cut by Northeast against Ackermann brought up the 200-run stand before another one in the spinner’s next over took Northeast to 292. After a clip for two against Ackermann to fine-leg, he swept Parkinson for four followed by a single to long-on for one to reach 299 with an over to go. Northeast then became only the second Glamorgan batter to reach 300 by cover-driving Ackermann for four – his 37th four and 361st delivery – followed by another cover drive from the day’s final ball to end on 308* just one short of Steve James’ all-time club record set at Colwyn Bay against Sussex in 2000.

Afternoon Update

Glamorgan resumed after lunch on 242-2 with Colin Ingram and Sam Northeast having added an unbeaten 233 for the third wicket and just nine runs away from the Club’s highest third wicket stand against Leicestershire set in 1995 by Steve James and Matthew Maynard who added 242 at Grace Road. After a reverse-sweep by Ingram against Parkinson to see Glamorgan to a second batting point, Northeast flicked Ackermann to square-leg for a single to break the record.

After a sequence of singles, Ingram lofted Parkinson over long-off for six before Northeast did the same to Ackermann for four. The singles continued to flow against the spinners with a sweep by Ingram against Parkinson bringing up another batting point on reaching 300. It also prompted the return of Wiaan Mulder, but the Springbok was square-driven for four by Ingram.

Northeast then brought up the triple-century stand – only the seventh in Glamorgan’s history in Championship cricket and the second this season for Ingram having added 328 with Eddie Byrom against Sussex at Cardiff. Northeast then nurdled Mulder to the vacant third man boundary to complete his 150 from 221 balls, but in Mulder’s next over Ingram edged a delivery into the gloves of Harry Swindells as the 306-run stand came to an end after 73.1 overs and just eight runs away from breaking the all-time Club record for the third wicket set by Emrys Davies and Willie Jones who added 313 against Essex at Brentwood in 1948.

Kiran Carlson was the new batter as Leicestershire immediately took the new ball at 80 overs with the new man clipping Chris Wright to square-leg for four. Roman Walker also had a loud appeal for l.b.w. turned down against Northeast but with the score on 334 Carlson got an under-edge to an attempted cut stroke against Wright and saw his stumps re-arranged. It immediately became 334-5 as Billy Root edged his first ball into Ackermann’s hands at first slip. Chris Cooke survived the hat-trick ball and helped Northeast through to the tea interval.

Morning update

With so many Glamorgan supporters watching the game at Leicester, there was an audible groan when the Welsh county slipped to 9-2 in reply to the home side’s mammoth first innings total of 584. But Colin Ingram and Sam Northeast steadied the ship and by the time bad light intervened at 1745pm, they had taken their side to 111-2.

Three overs were added to the daily quota when play began on time at 1100 following overnight rain and steady drizzle from breakfast time. However, the floodlights were on as Chris Wright and Roman Walker resumed the bowling duties with Ingram clipping the latter to fine-leg to complete his patient fifty from 97 balls. Northeast also square-drove Wright before Ingram drilled Walker through extra-cover.

Northeast also punched Wright off the back foot square of the wicket before Joey Evison, at the Pavilion End, was straight-driven for four by Ingram. With the sun breaking through the gun-metal grey skies, Wiaan Mulder had a spell at the Bennett End and was pulled for four by Northeast. Mulder was also edged by Ingram between the keeper and first slip for four before Northeast square-drove the Springbok.

Evison was then clipped to mid-wicket for four by the sublime Northeast whose deft placement was yet again a feature of his innings. He also saw Glamorgan to their first batting point as he off-drove Mulder before cutting Callum Parkinson through the hands of slip to complete his century from 142 balls as well as bringing up their double century stand. Ben Mike then entered the fray at the Bennett End and was nonchalantly flicked to backward square-leg by Ingram. The southpaw then unleashed a booming cover-drive against Mike before completing his century from 175 balls by upper-cutting him for one to third man.

Glamorgan won their record-breaking Championship match against Leicestershire at Grace Road, on a day when the Welsh county declared at lunch with a lead of 211 runs with Sam Northeast unbeaten on 410 - the highest-ever score for the Club and having shared an unbroken stand of 461 for the sixth wicket with Chris Cooke (191*) – also a Club record for any wicket. The visiting seamers then produced a stellar performance with Michael Hogan claiming 4/43 as Glamorgan won by an innings and 28 runs.

Close of Play Report

There were 35 overs remaining when play resumed tea with the home side on 106-3 as Andrew Salter and Michael Hogan shared the bowling duties. Both were pulled for four by both Wiaan Mulder and Colin Ackermann, who also late cut Hogan before edging the veteran into Chris Cooke’s gloves . Two balls later the same pair combined to remove Joey Evison as 128-4 became 128-5.

Having been joined by Harry Swindells, Mulder straight-drove Salter for four before his new partner square-cut Hogan for four. Neser then returned at the Bennett End with Colin Ingram’s wrist spin being employed at the Pavilion End. The final hour started with the home side on 159-5 as Mulder top-edged Neser just over the top of Cooke’s outstretched gloves before edging low into the slips where Kiran Carlson could not quite pouch the ball.

But in Neser’s next over, with the total on 170 and 13.5 overs remaining, Swindells departed l.b.w. before two balls later Ben Mike was also adjudged leg before. James Harris then returned at the Pavilion End and was on-driven for four by Mulder as he completed an 82-ball fifty, followed by a cover-drive, but with the total on 181 Roman Walker tried to repeat the shot but was caught low down at cover by Kiran Carlson.

There were ten overs remaining as Hogan returned at the Bennett End and, with his third delivery, he found the edge of Mulder’s bat with Chris Cooke completing a regulation catch. Callum Parkinson nearly spooned a catch to short-leg against Hogan before Neser returned at the Bennett End with Chris Wright surviving a loud appeal for l.b.w. However, next ball Neser bowled Wright as Glamorgan secured the victory which takes them into second place in the Division Two table.

Teatime Report

Glamorgan declared at lunch with 65 overs remaining in this run-fest as Louis Kimber and Rishi Patel opened the batting against Michael Neser and Michael Hogan. Each batter off-drove the Australian duo before Kimber pulled Neser just over the head of Billy Root at deep mid-wicket for six. However, with the total on 37 he edged Hogan to Northeast at second slip. Lewis Hill then edged the veteran through the gully to open his account before David Lloyd and James Harris had a spell in tandem.

Patel pulled Lloyd for four before Hill drove him square for four, with Andrew Salter then having a spell at the Pavilion End and seeing Patel again nearly hole out at mid-wicket to Root. But in the spinner’s next over, and with the total on 79, Patel edged to slip where Lloyd completed the catch. Having been joined by Colin Ackermann, Hill cover-drove Salter before his new partner did the same to Harris, followed by an on-drive to mid-wicket.

But with the total on 94 Hill feathered a ball from Salter into Cooke’s gloves, whilst Neser returned to the attack for a pre-tea salvo at the Bennett End.

Morning update

It was quite a day yesterday as Sam Northeast ended on 308*, one short of equalling Steve James’ all-time individual score for the Welsh county, made at Colwyn Bay against Sussex in 2000. He also helped to plunder a remarkable 219 runs during the final session, with an array of orthodox strokes and added an unbeaten 219 for the sixth wicket with Chris Cooke to beat Glamorgan’s best-ever stand for that wicket against Leicestershire set in 2004 when Robert Croft and Jonny Hughes added 218 at the same ground.

Glamorgan ended the day on 563-5, just four runs away from their highest-ever total against the East Midlands side – 566 at Colwyn Bay in 2009 – having scored 452 runs in the day, their fourth highest daily total, with Sam Northeast making 258 runs in the day, beating Matthew Maynard’s Club record of 238*against Hampshire at Southampton in 1991.

The Welsh county were still 21 runs in arrears as Wiaan Mulder resumed the bowling in tandem with Chris Wright. Northeast punched Wright for a single into the covers to move onto 309* before drilling him for four square of the wicket to break the record. Cooke then pulled Wright for four to wipe out the arrears before scything him to the vacant third man boundary as the stand reached 241 breaking the all-time sixth wicket record of 240 set by Jim Allenby and Mark Wallace against Surrey at The Oval in 2009.

Northeast then hooked Wright for four before cover-driving Mulder – his 41st boundary to equal Steve James’ record against Sussex in 2000 besides bringing up the 600. Cooke greeted the return of Callum Parkinson to the fray by drilling him for four through the covers before Northeast scored his 42nd boundary as he flicked Roman Walker to fine-leg before clipping Parkinson to square-leg for one to take his tally to 331 - the most number of runs for Glamorgan in a first-class match, previously held by Dick Duckfield who amassed 330 (280* and 50*) against Surrey at The Oval, 1936.

Cooke completed his hundred by square-driving Parkinson – his 161st ball as for the first time since the Northants match at Cardiff in 2019 there were three centurions in the innings. Cooke then pulling Parkinson for four to complete the triple century stand and the second of the innings. Cooke then pulled Walker for six before Northeast straight-drove Evison for four to bring up the 650.

Cooke then late-cut Parkinson before Northeast pulled Parkinson for two to reach his 350 after six hours and forty minutes at the crease. Cooke also pulled Evison for six before deftly late-cutting Mike for four. Northeast then guided Ben Mike for four to third man to reach 358 – the highest first-class score against Leicestershire surpassing the 355 made by Kevin Pietersen for Surrey at The Oval in 2015.

Cooke also flat-batted Mike for four before on-driving Mike for another boundary as the 700 came up for only the third time in the Club’s history. Northeast then straight-drove Evison for six, before Cooke pulled him for another maximum. Cooke then reverse-swept Parkinson for four as the total reached 720 breaking the Club record of 718-3d against Sussex at Colwyn Bay in 2000

Northeast brought up the 400-stand by square-cutting Parkinson. Cooke then square-drove Mike for four before late-cutting Parkinson for another four. Cooke then flayed Mike for a single as the stand reached 426 breaking the all-time record for any wicket - 425 added by Viv Richards and Adrian Dale against Middlesex at Cardiff in 1993. With all nine fielders dotted around the boundary the pair continued to accumulate in one’s and two’s before Northeast reached his 400 by lofting Walker for six over long-on to become only the fourth batter after Brian Lara, Archie MacLaren and Graeme Hick to score 400 in a Championship match. He celebrated by plonking the next ball over long-off for another six as he ended unbeaten on 410 when the declaration came during the lunch interval.