Handscomb and Rahane Hit Centuries To Secure Glamorgan Draw

By Hamish Stuart | ECB Reporters' Network

Leicestershire’s overseas stars laid the platform for their side to salvage a draw against Glamorgan, Australian Peter Handscomb unbeaten on 139 to steer his side to safety.

It was his last act of the English season before heading back to Australia on Monday, though the draw does little to help the mathematical chances of promotion for Leicestershire, 22 points behind second placed Middlesex.

Indian Ajinkya Rahane had also scored a century as part of the visitors’ rearguard efforts, while Liam Trevaskis formed a solid partnership with Handscomb to see the game out, Leicestershire reaching 369 for 6, a lead of 70 runs in their second innings when bad light cut proceedings short.

Glamorgan were given flickering hope from an unlikely source, the part-time off spin of Kiran Carlson bringing two wickets, including that of Rahane, Dan Douthwaite the only other wicket-taker on a day of toil as the hybrid, part synthetic, pitch in Cardiff held up well.

Leicestershire’s hopes of survival depended strongly on their international pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb and they did not disappoint in the morning session.

Indian Rahane moved smoothly onto three figures until he fell to the unlikely source of Kiran Carlson’s off spin, getting an edge to a wide ball which was not quite short enough to cut, caught behind by Chris Cooke for 102.

That was shortly before lunch and just after the break it was Carlson who made the breakthrough again, a bit more lift outside off stump and Rehan Ahmed steered the ball to Mason Crane in a deep gully position.

Louis Kimber kept Glamorgan interested with a jittery start, a caught and bowled chance for leg spinner Mason Crane who dropped his fourth catch of the innings, this time from a difficult one-handed attempt to his right.

Dan Douthwaite’s mixed bag brought the breakthrough, two half volleys the first of which was crashed for four by Kimber but the second was smashed in the air to Carlson at extra cover who took the smart catch.

Meanwhile, Australian Handscomb carried on smoothly passing three figures and calmly accumulating “ carrying his side’s hopes on his shoulders.

Glamorgan had long periods of bowling spin, possibly because of poor light, and also resorted to some creative tactics such as eight catchers in front of the bat, four on each side of the wicket in an arrowhead formation.

With Liam Trevaskis forming a solid partnership with Handscomb, the drama dried up before bad light brought an end to proceedings.