Half centuries for Azad and Patel but Foxes then collapse
VISITORS LOSE SIX WICKETS FOR 117 RUNS AFTER TEA IN CARDIFF
LEICESTERSHIRE closed on 285 for seven, with the visitors losing six wickets for 117 runs after tea, on the first day of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, writes Peter Miller.
A career best 82 from Rishi Patel and a well-made 64 from Hassan Azad had given the Foxes hope of setting a competitive first innings score for the first time this season – but a frantic evening session saw those hopes fade.
The visitors were well placed at tea on 168 for two before wickets for Marnus Labuschagne and two preventable run outs meant their middle order made limited impact.
When Patel was bowled by James Harris, chopping on while attempting a cut shot, Leicestershire had lost their top order and were still short of passing 300 for the first time in the Championship this season.
Having won the toss and put Leicestershire into bat, Glamorgan would have been hoping for some early wickets to justify that decision.
That was not to be, with Leicestershire making slow but steady progress as they reached lunch at 82 for none.
Glamorgan went into this game with six seam bowling options, but it was the part-time spin of Labuschagne that made the breakthrough.
Sam Evans came down the pitch to a ball that turned just enough to go past the outside edge and Chris Cooke completed a simple stumping.
Labuschagne could have dismissed Azad when the batter was on 46 but David Lloyd failed to hold on to a chance in the slips.
Azad made it to 64 and looked completely untroubled before he was run out by a sharp throw from the boundary by Sam Northeast.
Patel came into this side for captain Colin Ackermann, who missed out due to an injured thumb.
Patel has had some misfortune himself this season with illness and then injury preventing him from making a first team appearance.
But from the very start of his innings he looked in fine touch as he passed 50 for the first time in his first-class career.
While Patel stood firm, it was chaotic at the other end with the run out of Azad and Labuschagne picking up the wickets of Wiaan Mulder and Scott Steel in consecutive balls.
The new ball brought more wickets with Michael Neser, James Harris and James Weighell all chipping in to cause more damage to the Leicestershire batting line-up.
Barring some late order brilliance, Leicestershire will be looking to fight their way back into the match.
Given how well things had gone for Leicestershire in the first half of the day, Glamorgan will be delighted with their bowlers’ efforts after the tea break.