Glamorgan gave slim chances of promotion a boost against Leicestershire

Glamorgan gave their slim chances of promotion a considerable boost on the second day of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash against Leicestershire at Sophia Gardens, as they left the visitors on the brink of following on at 191 for 9, unless the Welsh county decide to bat.

After Glamorgan had gained maximum batting points from the penultimate ball of the 110th over, and were dismissed for 435, the visitors suffered an astonishing collapse following an opening partnership of 85 between captain Paul Horton and Hassan Azad.

From 85 for no wicket, they collapsed to 87 for 5, with the five wickets falling for two runs in 5.5 overs. After Michael Hogan had bowled Horton, who struck a fluent 49, the collapse set in with Samit Patel, in his third game on loan from Nottinghamshire, taking the next three wickets.

Patel struck twice in an over to dismiss Colin Ackermann leg-before and former Glamorgan left-hander Mark Cosgrove, bowled for nought.

Ruaidhri Smith then struck with the final ball of his first over, which kept low as George Rhodes was bowled without scoring, before Billy Root took a close catch in Patel's next over to remove Azad for 28.

Andrew Salter trapped Harry Dearden in front for nine in the final over before tea, with the visitors struggling at 111 for 6.

Their troubles deepened in the final session, when Harry Swindells was caught behind down the leg-side off Hogan, after he offered some gentle resistance alongside Ben Mike, who was eventually lbw to Ruaidhri Smith for 16.

Smith struck in the same way to dismiss Gavin Griffiths for three, as Glamorgan claimed their ninth wicket and maximum bowling points.

Earlier, resuming on 300 for 4, Glamorgan had added a further 135 to their overnight score, with six partnerships in excess of fifty. Attacking from the outset, Root was caught at slip, ending a 77-run partnership after Chris Cooke had struck a six off Will Davis who, two overs later, trapped Graham Wagg lbw for three.

Cooke brought up just his second half-century of the season from 49 balls, and claimed Glamorgan's fourth batting point with a flick to the fine-leg boundary. He later brought up the fifth and final point with a six over mid-wicket.

Salter was then caught behind for 21, before Cooke fell agonisingly short of a century when he was bowled for 96, attempting to drive Chris Wright into the leg-side.

Smith was bowled by Wright for 12 and the innings was wrapped up as Lukas Carey was caught at point as the bowler claimed his fifth wicket.