Eckersley consolidates after Ingram ton

An unbeaten 70 from Ned Eckersley, his third half-century in his last four innings, means Leicestershire's acting captain could have a difficult decision to make on the fourth day of the Championship match against Glamorgan at the Fischer County Ground.

Eckersley's unbroken partnership of 91 in 19 overs with Mark Pettini for the fourth wicket in Leicestershire's second innings helped his side close day three leading the visitors by 194, with seven wickets remaining.

It is a strong position, but the pitch is flat, the outfield fast, and with Zak Chappell, a key member of his bowling attack, unable to bowl after being hit on the right shoulder while batting in the nets before the start of the second day, Eckersley will have much to ponder should it come to setting a target.

Even so, it was an impressively positive response from Leicestershire after Colin Ingram had become the second centurion of Glamorgan's first innings. The South African was slightly fortunate to survive a caught-and-bowled opportunity given to Charlie Shreck on 92, but reached his century, from 178 balls, by hooking a Neil Dexter delivery to the midwicket boundary.

It looked as though Glamorgan would go on to build a substantial first-innings lead, but they lost their last five wickets for just 42 runs, beginning with Ingram's dismissal for 137 - his best for Glamorgan - bowled off an inside edge by Clint McKay in the over before lunch.

McKay removed Kiran Carlson immediately after the break, Harry Dearden holding a fine catch at second slip, as he did when Marchant De Lange edged the same bowler soon afterwards. Lukas Carey's attempt to hook Raine gave Dexter the simplest of catches at third slip, the ball looping off the back of the bat, and Dexter was again the grateful catcher when Michael Hogan chipped Raine gently in to the covers.

Leicestershire did lose opener Dearden early, smartly caught by Nick Selman low to his right at second slip when the opener edged an attempted drive at Hogan.

Dexter was run out after a poor call from Paul Horton, and Horton himself leg before wicket to a de Lange yorker that knocked the batsman off his feet, but Eckersley - dropped by David Lloyd on 48 - and Pettini scored quickly in the final hour.