Leicestershire in front after the opening day despite Cooke’s half century
Leicestershire ended the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship season in the driving seat in Cardiff, after dismissing hosts Glamorgan for 229 midway through the evening session.
Visiting captain Peter Hanscomb won the toss and elected to field in cloudy conditions, after a wet start in the Welsh capital.
Seamer Ian Holland made an early breakthough as Zain ul Hassan edged to Hanscomb at third slip, before Chris Cooke struck a beautiful half century to continue his fine record against the Foxes. Contributions from Eddie Byrom, Colin Ingram, Kiran Carlson and England spinner Shoaib Bashir dug the home side out of trouble, before Rehan Ahmed took his first scalp of the season to remove Bashir to end the home sides first innings.
Holland, now replacing the injured Rishi Patel, who suffered a dislocation to his thumb in the morning session, at the top of the Foxes order, went cheaply as he edged a brilliant Timm van der Gugten delivery to Cooke in the fifth over. Sol Budinger and Ben Mike then built a partnership to leave the visitors on 65/1 at the close, some 164 runs behind.
Glamorgan’s van der Gugten, Andy Gorvin, ul Hassan and Bashir all have a vital part to play on a deck suited to their bowling. Another exciting days play in prospect.