Brathwaite century sets up declaration as Carey strikes late on
ALTHOUGH Glamorgan’s hopes of gaining promotion to Division One have diminished following Gloucestershire’s win in three days and Northants’ dominant position against Durham, the Welsh county should win their fourth championship game of the season on the final day.
Leicestershire will resume on 32 for two, needing a further 392 to win, with Hassan Azad on 15 not out and the former Glamorgan batsman Mark Cosgrove, three.
Glamorgan have set the visitors the improbable target of 424 from a minimum of 113 overs.
Although spin was likely to play a decisive part, it was Lukas Carey, getting movement from the pitch, who took the first two wickets in his second and third overs. He had Paul Horton caught by the wicketkeeper, then had Colin Ackermann held by David Lloyd at slip.
Glamorgan declared on 251 for five in their second innings and would have declared earlier had they not allowed Kraigg Brathwaite to reach his century in only the second of three games he is playing until the end of the season.
The West Indies opening batsman was at the crease for the duration, facing 189 balls and striking a six and 12 fours for his unbeaten 103.
Unlike many West Indian batsmen, he is not a flamboyant stroke player – he has a moderate strike rate of 40 in his Test career – and is selective ls in his approach. However, depending on his availability, he would be a useful Championship overseas player for any county, having played 56 Tests with eight centuries and 17 50s.
He shared useful partnerships with the other batsmen notably Chris Cooke, who scored 44 and put on 80 with Brathwaite for the fifth wicket. He was schooled at Combermere College in Barbados whose past pupils include Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer.
Leicestershire’s 10th-wicket pair, Chris Wright and Will Davis, had frustrated Glamorgan’s bowlers in the morning session by adding 92 for the 10th wicket, with Wright scoring 60 and Davis a career-best 39 not out.
Had they added another three runs they would have eclipsed the previous record for the final wicket for Leicestershire against Glamorgan – set by Dieter Klein and Gavin Griffiths on the same ground last season.
Afterwards, Brasthwaite said: “I was very pleased, as it wasn’t easy at the start with their bowlers bowling so well.
“It did get easier as the ball got softer and we got to where we wanted – the declaration – at just the right time.
“We then got those two wickets at the start of the innings and eight more like that would be great, and I am very happy to have made a contribution”.