Dexter stars but Glamorgan reduce deficit

SCORE | Day 1 of 4, Specsavers County Championship: Leicestershire CCC 191 v Glamorgan CCC 82-0

SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo

REACTION | Neil Dexter spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae at stumps

HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season

REPORT | Neil Dexter made a terrific 87 but Glamorgan CCC took the first day honours at the Fischer County Ground.

Dexter’s fine effort led a Leicestershire CCC recovery from 45 for five to 191 all out before visiting openers Nick Selman and Jack Murphy reduced the deficit to 109 by stumps.

There was a coin toss for the second time in three games at the Fischer County Ground. Leicestershire CCC won it and elected to bat on a pleasant morning.

County were in a spot of bother early, losing a trio of wickets with the score on nine. Paul Horton (7) was the first wicket to fall, lbw to Timm van der Gugten, and Colin Ackermann (0) then hit the paceman to Michael Hogan at mid-off. Captain Michael Carberry (1) then got an edge from a Hogan delivery that seamed away with wicket-keeper Chris Cooke taking the catch.

Mark Cosgrove started the innings needing a single to reach the significant figure of 14,000 first-class career runs, so although his first scoring stroke was always going to take him to the milestone, the moment was marked in quite an unusual fashion. Cosgrove ultimately was credited with five, as one run ultimately resulted in overthrows.

But Cosgrove was the next batsman to be dismissed; a big in-swinger from Marchant de Lange trapped him lbw for 14, leaving County at 33 for 4. 

It paired Ateeq Javid and Dexter together as they looked to blunt the new ball but Javid was the next wicket to fall for 13, caught by Cooke off the bowling of all-rounder David Lloyd.

Dexter and Lewis Hill guided Leicestershire towards lunch with the score at 62 for 5. But the ‘keeper took a severe blow to the arm from de Lange and had to retire hurt at the interval. Ben Raine (2) came in after lunch but was bowled by Michael Hogan. 

Callum Parkinson and Dexter began to rebuild through positive strokeplay, with Parkinson advancing down the wicket to hit Hogan back over his head for four. They reached their 50 partnership from 82 balls before Dexter reached a second half-century in three innings from 96 balls (6x4). 

The alliance was worth 80 when Parkinson (30) edged a Hogan delivery to Selman at second slip, the fielder taking the catch at the second attempt. 

Despite the nasty blow suffered earlier, Hill returned to the wicket and guided County to 174-7 at tea alongside Dexter, who hit the first runs of the final session by advancing down the wicket to hit the off-spin off Andrew Salter over mid-off. 

However, he lost two partners to de Lange, who bowled Hill (13) with a delivery that nipped back sharply before pinning Varun Aaron (0) leg before with a sharp yorker.

Gavin Griffiths was the last man and ended unbeaten as Dexter selflessly tried to hit Salter over long-on but was caught by Murphy right on the boundary edge.

The new ball was taken by Raine, who had an appeal for caught behind against Murphy. The ball regularly beat the outside edge but, frustratingly for County, the breakthrough wouldn’t come.

Griffiths replaced Aaron while Raine was bowling with incredible control. At the end of his 9-over spell he had bowled four maidens and conceded just 17 runs. 

Selman and Murphy reached their 50 partnership in the 16th over as the latter hit Griffiths for four. Carberry continued to rotate the bowlers, including giving Parkinson a couple of overs before stumps, but the openers held firm.

TEAM | Carberry (capt), Horton, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Javid, Dexter, Hill (wk), Raine, Parkinson, Griffiths, Aaron. 

FIGURES | Raine 9-4-17-0, Aaron 7-0-32-0, Griffiths 3-1-18-0, Dexter 3-1-7-0, Parkinson 2-1-4-0. 

PHOTO | Thanks to John Mallett for the photo of Neil Dexter batting today.

* Admission to the second day's play against Glamorgan CCC costs £12 for adults and £2 for under 16s. You can also follow the Foxes at the Fischer County Ground throughout the 2018 season by becoming a Member of the club. For further details on the advantages of joining us, please follow the link HERE