Leicestershire suffer second collapse in four days

Leicestershire suffered their second batting failure in four days as they were shot out for just 109 on the opening day at Cardiff. Following their crumbling at the hands of Hampshire on Wednesday, Leicestershire carried their slippery form over the Severn Bridge.

No Leicestershire player managed double figures until no. 6 Niall O'Brien, whose 17 turned out to be their joint-highest score of the innings alongside Anthony Ireland, as the wickets tumbled steadily throughout the day.

Glamorgan produced a fine display with the ball with all four seamers contributing. Tom Helm saw off two of the visitors' top three on his way to 2 for 9 from six overs, with Jim Allenby and Will Owen sharing three wickets each. Michael Hogan, back from paternity leave in Australia, accounting for the others.

Leicestershire captain lost the toss again - he has not won one all season - were invited to bat and could hardly have made a worse start when play belatedly got under way as Hogan got rid of Greg Smith for a duck with just the second ball of the day.

Fellow opener Angus Robson followed suit soon after the first of several rain-enforced interruptions, trapped leg before wicket by Helm for 5. And Helm was not done there, bowling Ned Eckersley for 9 to leave the visitors reeling on 17 for 3.

Josh Cobb contributed only 4 before becoming Owen's first victim from the bowler's second ball, caught at mid-off by Will Bragg, and Sarwan did not fare much better, making just 7 before nicking to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace off the bowling of Allenby.

O'Brien and Rob Taylor brought a little respite when they shared the best partnership of the visitors' innings with a 28-run sixth-wicket stand, before both falling with the score on 62 - both caught behind, off Allenby and Hogan, respectively.

Jigar Naik and Ireland hung around for eight overs before the latter was tempted into an ill-fated pull by Owen, who further added to his wicket haul by having Nathan Buck caught behind for 2 in his next over.

Naik and Charlie Shreck eked out a 19-run final-wicket stand to at least get Leicestershire into treble figures, but there will have been little celebration of that landmark at the tea interval.

Tom Lancefield was making his county debut at the top of the Glamorgan order alongside Jacques Rudolph and, although he provided Leicestershire with their only moment of joy with the ball when he edged to wicketkeeper O'Brien off the bowling of Taylor before the showers again returned, it was very much the home team's day.

Rudolph, one 26 not out, will resume alongside the in-form Bragg on Monday, with Glamorgan in good shape to build a healthy first-innings advantage.