Leicestershire 297 for 6 (O’Brien 93 , Horton 67) trail Glamorgan 348 by 51 runs
Scorecard
Paul Horton took a blow on the back of the head © Getty Images
Niall O’Brien fell seven runs short of a century as he helped Leicestershire recover from 99 for 3 to 297 for 6 by the second day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Glamorgan.
O’Brien invariably plays well against Glamorgan. He made his career-best 182 here for Northamptonshire four years ago, scored 133 here in 2014, and should have scored another century this time before chasing a wide one on 93 and nicking it to the wicketkeeper.
He shared in useful partnerships with Paul Horton and Mark Pettini but it was O’Brien’s contribution that enabled his team to get within four runs of three batting points and narrow the deficit to 51. With a favourable weather forecast and with two days remaining, the game is finely poised.
Glamorgan’s bowlers suffered in the morning session, as three chances were dropped in the slip cordon. There were possibly mitigating circumstances due to the freezing conditions, but Craig Meschede, who bowled an excellent opening spell, was not impressed as Horton and Angus Robson were reprieved.
The openers put on 89, before Michael Hogan found the edge, and Jacques Rudolph took a one-handed catch at second slip. Ten runs later, David Lloyd was brought on for an exploratory over before lunch, and responded by taking two wickets in five balls. Neil Dexter slapped a short ball to cover, then three balls later, Mark Cosgrove, who, as a former Glamorgan player averaged 41 during his stay in Wales, and was given a generous welcome by the home crowd, was caught by Mark Wallace.
There had been doubts whether Pettini would bat due to a back problem, but although limited in his movements, he stayed with O’Brien for an hour and forty minutes to put on 82, until he was undone by Netherlands paceman Timm van der Gugten, to give him his first wicket for the county.
With 16 overs remaining, bad light stopped play, but within 15 minutes they returned to bowl a further two overs, then walked off again. Leicestershire will resume on 297 for 6, with Wayne White on 42 and Ben Raine on 8.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo