Seven Wickets Put Glamorgan in Control at Rain-Hit Leicester

Glamorgan took control of their County Championship match against Leicestershire by reducing the hosts to 113-7 on a rain-shortened opening day at Grace Road. Only 47 overs were possible after heavy showers caused two lengthy interruptions, but the visitors made consistent inroads whenever play resumed. BBC Sport, carrying a report from the ECB Reporters' Network, said Glamorgan collected two points from the day.

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Timm van der Gugten led the figures with 2-43, while every member of Glamorgan's five-man attack claimed at least one wicket. After choosing to field, the visitors had Leicestershire 63-4 by lunch on a pitch with two visibly different sections. The home side had initially resisted for an hour through Rishi Patel and Sheridon Gumbs.

Patel and Rehan Ahmed then fell to catches in the slips in consecutive overs. Ahmed became Ray Toole's first wicket for Glamorgan on the New Zealand-based left-arm seamer's county debut. Gumbs was run out after changing direction while attempting a single to gully, before Hamza Shaikh edged Ben Kellaway's off-spin behind on his Leicestershire Championship debut.

Nick Kelly was the fifth batter dismissed, also caught behind. Rain then kept the players off the field for close to four hours in total, but 12 more overs were completed late in the day. Andy Gorvin trapped Jonny Tattersall leg before wicket, and Van der Gugten removed Ben Mike with two deliveries remaining before the close.

The match carries importance at opposite ends of the Division One table. Glamorgan, promoted after finishing second to Leicestershire in Division Two, began the game 35 points ahead of their hosts and remain in the title race. Leicestershire entered the contest at the bottom of the standings and are trying to avoid relegation. Glamorgan's season has included a June victory over Surrey.

Toole told the ECB Reporters' Network that the surface produced some unexpected uneven bounce, but said the conditions were the same for both teams. Leicestershire assistant coach Dave Whitmore acknowledged that Glamorgan bowled very well in difficult, overcast batting conditions. He added that the hosts could use the visitors' disciplined approach as a model when it is their turn to bowl.