Injuries stop Foxes but positives to be taken
Richard Rae finds two teams struggling for form at this early point of the season
Both Leicestershire and Glamorgan seized on the positives after a grittily absorbing four days of cricket at the Fischer County Ground. Welcome though a decent points return was for both counties, however, the Foxes were left to rue injuries which deprived them of young fast bowler Zak Chappell throughout Glamorgan’s entire first innings, and seamers Clint McKay and Ben Raine for much of the visitors’ second dig. Even then Leicestershire might have forced the win. Set 355 to win from 57 overs, Glamorgan were wobbling on 65-4 when Aneurin Donald, on 18, spliced a Charlie Shreck bouncer towards Cameron Delport at point. The South African got his hands under the ball but spilled it as he hit the ground, and Donald and Chris Cooke went on to compile an unbeaten partnership of 87 before Leicestershire skipper Ned Eckersley called it a day eight overs before the scheduled close. “A couple of their guys going down towards the end probably eased things a bit,” acknowledged Donald.
“We’re pleased with how we dealt with it, all in all a worthwhile four days for both teams. It was a quick-scoring ground so it was understandable what they did (with the declaration), and a high-scoring draw for both teams probably isn’t the worst result.”
There were certainly some among the Leicestershire faithful who thought Eckersley delayed his declaration too long, not least because Chappell had recovered and was fit to bowl.
Eckersley, captaining in place of the suspended Mark Cosgrove, defended his timing.
“Michael Hogan and Marchant De Lange bowled really well in the first hour of the final morning, which put a stop to some of our momentum, and we needed Swampy (Mark Pettini) to play as well as he did.
“Then we were fantastic with the new ball, but Clint and Ben went down and it was tough from then on. We felt we had enough overs to get them out at the start, it was a new ball game – the wicket got much better when the ball went softer – and we put put them under pressure, but it was too much to ask (Charlie) Shreckie and Zak to bowl a lot of overs and try and get the job done.”