Glamorgan win at Leicester

Glamorgan began their defence of the National League title with an emphatic 44 run victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road.

The Glamorgan Dragons were superior in every department of the game to the Leicestershire Foxes, and showed why they were worthy League champions last year with a fine all-round display of positive strokeplay, accurate bowling and tigerish fielding.

David Hemp top-scored with an unbeaten 83, and shared in a jaunty sixth wicket partnership with wicket-keeper Mark Wallace that added 44 runs in the last 3 overs of the Glamorgan innings after they had been inserted by the home team.

Hemp`s 83* was compiled from 96 balls and included 9 fours and a huge six from the final ball of the innings which took Glamorgan`s total to an imposing 249-5. There were also useful contributions from Mike Powell who made 40, and Matthew Maynard who struck 43 before being run out, whilst Wallace chipped in with 20 from 10 balls in an unbroken stand of 59 in 5 overs with Hemp.

Leicestershire fielded both of their overseas players after Virender Sehwag had arrived at seven o`clock in the morning following an overnight flight from India. The Test star unfurled some forceful strokes before lofting Andrew Davies into the hands of Alex Wharf at mid-off. Brad Hodge, the Australian, was dismisssed for a duck by his compatriot Michael Kasprowicz, as Leicestershire slipped to 75-5 after 15 overs.

Darren Maddy then provided some resistance, but after a useful stand with Jeremy Snape, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, as acting captain Robert Croft made some shrewd bowling changes. Maddy was eventually last out, caught by man-of-the-match David Hemp off Andrew Davies for 80 to give a buoyant Glamorgan side a huge lift before their clash against the Kent Spitfires at Sophia Gardens on Monday.