Lower order props Glamorgan up
Three players scored half-centuries as Glamorgan just about shaded the opening day of their Division Two clash against Leicestershire at Colwyn Bay
ESPNcricinfo staff
17-Aug-2011
Three players scored half-centuries as Glamorgan just about shaded the opening day of their Division Two clash against Leicestershire at Colwyn Bay. Gareth Rees, Jim Allenby and Mark Wallace all passed 50 but failed to go on and convert into centuries. By the close of play Glamorgan, who had won the toss, had reached 328 for 8 with Dean Cosker (21) and Robert Croft (12) still there in a ninth-wicket partnership worth 28.
At the start of the day Alviro Petersen, who needed 38 more runs to be the first Glamorgan player to 1,000 first-class runs, was out in the third over, bowled by Matthew Hoggard through the gate.
It was Hoggard's first Championship match for two months after recovering from an arm injury.
Hoggard, who opened with a spell of nine overs, could have had a wicket three balls earlier when wicket-keeper Paul Dixey dived across first slip but could not cling on. Rees was on 1 at the time but batted impressively thereafter. Although he lost Will Bragg, bowled off his pads by Wayne White, he put on 71 with Stewart Walters before lunch.
But in the penultimate over before lunch Walters was trapped lbw by offspinner Jigar Naik to one which kept very low. Rees reached his 50 with 10 fours and drove well. By lunch Glamorgan had reached 105 for 3.
James, on his Championship debut, looked well organised but he lost Rees, who had added only one more run before edging Nathan Buck to Will Jefferson at second slip. Glamorgan lost wickets at regular intervals including James who was bowled attempting to slog sweep Naik. And 172 for 5 became 232 for 6 shortly after tea when Allenby, who scored a half century from 79 balls with eight fours, was well caught by James Taylor at short extra cover for 55.
That ended a fine 60-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Wallace, who reached 50 from 96 balls and was also out for 55. James Harris, back from England Lions duty, batted well for 31 before he edged White straight to Matthew Boyce at first slip. That left Glamorgan on 300 for 8 before Cosker and Croft guided their team to the close.
