Weatherald ton boosts Leics after Crane's 99 for Glamorgan
A century from Australian opener Jake Weatherald takes Leicestershire to 215-1 after Mason Crane's 99 steers Glamorgan to 440 all out.
Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Sophie Gardens, Cardiff (day two) Glamorgan 440 (142 overs): Crane 99, Carlson 95, Dickson 90, van der Gugten 52; Holland 2-33 Leicestershire 215-1 (48 overs): Weatherald 104 ret hurt, R Patel 79 Glamorgan 3 pts, Leicestershire 2 pts Match scorecard Jake Weatherald's maiden county century helped Leicestershire grab back the initiative after Mason Crane's 99 helped Glamorgan grind their way to 440. The Foxes sped to 215-1 in the second half of the day but Aussie Test opener Weatherald had to retire hurt with cramp on 104 off 116 balls. He shared a rapid stand of 167 with Rishi Patel who hit 79 as Leicestershire batted with far more freedom than the hosts.
Crane was last out for Glamorgan, stumped agonisingly short of a maiden first-class hundred after again showing his improvement with the bat. It looked like a formidable total for the hosts but their bowlers could not find any consistent threat on a surface that gave them little help. Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport Resuming on 334-7, Crane and Timm van der Gugten ensured a third batting point and made sure the visitors did not get a third point with the ball, extending a leisurely stand to a marathon of 133 in largely untroubled fashion.
Van der Gugten reached a cautious half-century off 136 balls before falling to a brilliant stumping by Ben Cox, down the leg-side off seamer Ben Green. Crane played some pleasant drives but was forced to slow down by some containing Leicestershire bowling, just 20 runs coming off 13. 3 overs for the ninth wicket before Andy Gorvin drove Josh Davey to mid-on.
Last man Ryan Hadley, with an uncertain batting pedigree, came in with Crane on 88 and managed to prod his way to an unbeaten 11 as the tempo dropped further on a placid pitch. Crane took his boundary tally to 10 as he moved gently through the nineties but the Foxes refused to give anything away and Crane finally lost patience, trying to hoist Ajaz Patel through mid-wicket and seeing Cox whip off the bails again for a sixth dismissal. It was a remarkable achievement for a lower-order player who had not managed a 50 with his previous county Hampshire, and whose previous best was 61.