Half-centuries enable Leicestershire to recover

Three half-centuries from Ben Smith, skipper Vince Wells and Neil Burns recued Leicestershire from a precarious position on the first day of their vital CricInfo Championship Division One clash against relegation rivals Glamorgan at Grace Road.

Glamorgan had reduced Leicestershire to 26-3 within nine overs after the opening 75-minutes were lost to rain, but by an abbreviated close because of bad light the home side had finished the day on 274-7.

Despite winning the toss Leicestershire found themselves deep in trouble in a match they must win to rule out the possibility of suffering relegation.

Steve Watkin, who needed just two wickets before this match for 900 first-class wickets, struck with the 12th delivery of the game to have Iain Sutcliffe lbw.

From 10-1 Leicestershire found themselves 18-2 thanks to the pace of Simon Jones, who has been included in England's Academy tour to Adelaide this winter.

Jones had Trevor Ward well caught low down at point by Matthew Maynard and he followed that up by bowling Aftab Habib.

Ben Smith and Darren Maddy launched something of a recovery and reached tea at 61-3.

But Maddy mishooked Andrew Davies in the third over after the interval and Leicestershire's innings further collapsed when Darren Stevens also miscued Darren Thomas.

After reducing Leicestershire to 93-5 Glamorgan rather let the home side off the hook. Smith reached his 50 off 73 balls with nine fours before being adjudged lbw to Robert Croft's second ball of the match.

Wells, who went to 50 off 84 balls, and Burns saw Leicestershire safely to tea at 226-6 from 51 overs.

Before the close Watkin claimed his 900th wicket when he trapped Wells lbw.