Henderson fifty props Leicestershire up

Stumps Leicestershire 231 for 9 (Henderson 74*, Hoggard 12*, Taylor 45, Cosker 4-41) v Glamorgan
Scorecard

Claude Henderson began the new season in style with his first County Championship half-century since September 2009 to lead a Leicestershire fightback against Glamorgan at Grace Road.

The 38-year-old South African, in his testimonial season at the club, top-scored with an unbeaten 74 as Leicestershire closed on 231 for 9, having looked in dire straits at 156 for 8. It was Henderson's best score since he made an unbeaten 79, also against Glamorgan, at the end of the 2009 season.

Before the veteran came to their rescue Leicestershire had crumbled alarmingly against left-arm spinner Dean Cosker, who finished with figures of 4 for 41 from 30 overs. But Glamorgan's hopes of dismissing the home side for under 200 were shattered as Leicestershire's last two wickets added 75 runs with skipper Matthew Hoggard still there on 12 having shared a stand of 39 with Henderson.

Leicestershire, who reported a loss of more than £400,000 last season, were given the boost of winning the toss and batting in front of a bigger than average first-day crowd. But despite a solid opening stand of 45 between Matthew Boyce and Will Jefferson it was Glamorgan who claimed the initiative in the first two sessions of the day.

Once seamers Graham Wagg and Huw Waters had dismissed the openers the home side's innings fell apart with only young James Taylor offering any real resistance. He made a stylish 45 off 98 balls but could find nobody to provide any support for him as the middle order folded. Greg Smith, another highly-rated young player, was disappointingly run out for nine runs and then the spin duo of Cosker and Robert Croft had the home side toiling.

Cosker, who claimed his four wickets in an unbroken spell of 23 overs, created all manner of problems and when Henderson strode in with the score at 125 for 6 Leicestershire's hopes of a decent score looked slim. But the South African took charge, hitting three fours in an over off Wagg and by the close he had turned things around with an excellent innings of 74 off 146 balls with 10 boundaries.

Nadeem Malik shared a stand of 36 for the ninth wicket with him and then Hoggard saw things through to the close as Leicester reached respectability. It was a disappointing finish to the day for Glamorgan, who like Leicestershire endured a turbulent winter and much backroom upheaval. But their new captain Alviro Petersen impressed with his field placings and bowling changes until Leicestershire's spirited fightback in the evening session.