Glamorgan CCC Match Preview - 20/07/2022

The season so far:

Having won four, drawn three and lost two matches so far in Division Two, opposition Glamorgan are pushing for promotion, standing 71 points ahead of the Running Foxes in the league table.  Their most recent match was a draw against leaders Nottinghamshire, in which they had the better of the four days - Notts having to bat out for a draw on day four.

When we last met:

The two teams met earlier in the season in Cardiff, with our hosts running out six-wicket winners. 

Batting first, Leicestershire posted 320, with Hasan Azad (64) and Rishi Patel (82) impressing, although from 151-1, the eventual total was rather disappointing.  Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson both hit 80+ for Glamorgan, who aided by 64 extras managed 437 all out, with Chris Wright (3-83) the most successful Leicestershire bowler.

This gave Glamorgan a 117 first innings lead, which left them 150 to chase after Leicestershire's 266 all out in their second innings.  Azad's second fifty of the match, and some lower-order resistance from Ben Mike gave Leicestershire hope, but Glamorgan knocked off the required runs for the loss of four wickets. 

Opposition players to watch:

Following his move from Hampshire, Sam Northeast leads the run-scoring charts for Glamorgan, hitting 717 runs so far in Division Two, at an average of 47.80, and he will be a key wicket for the Running Foxes bowlers over the coming four days.

Veteran Michael Hogan recently celebrated a wildcard Hundred contract for Southern Brave, and he will be keen to build on his 30 wickets so far in what has been stated as his final season of first-class cricket.  Hogan's wickets have come at an average of 24.83, again showing his value to the Glamorgan attack which he has done for numerous years already.

Our players to watch:

If there is a definition of a player in form, it is Colin Ackermann.  His unbeaten 277 at Hove last week was a career-best, making it back-to-back red ball centuries for Ackers - building on a superb end to his T20 campaign as well.  He also took 3-96 with the ball against Sussex, and Ackermann's all-round threat will be vital for Leicestershire in this game.

Fellow spinner Callum Parkinson took 5-128 with the ball in tough bowling conditions in that match at Hove, and our red-ball skipper has now taken the most wickets for Leicestershire this season (19), to go with his 50 from last season as well.  With conditions likely to be hot and dry, the twin spin threat from Parky and Ackers can turn the match in Leicestershire's favour.

Squad:

Ackermann, Evison, Hendricks, Hill, Kimber, Mike, Mulder, Parkinson *, Patel, Steel, Swindells +, Walker, Wright.