Leicestershire 151 and 257 (Gumbs 93, Zain 3-46) beat Glamorgan 152 and 214 (Carlson 99, Holland 5-19) by 42 runs
Leicestershire’s hopes of surviving their first season back in Division One after a 23-year absence gained a significant boost as a 42-run defeat of Glamorgan gave them back-to-back wins in the Rothesay County Championship after failing to register any in their first seven fixtures.
Carlson gave his side a chance of a successful outcome, making 99 in a near four-and-a-half hour show of defiance, but once he had gone with 81 still needed, Glamorgan did not quite have enough resources to finish the job.
The result deals a blow to Glamorgan’s hopes of keeping their place in a close chase for the title, with rivals Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire successful on Sunday.
Leicestershire edged closer to their desired outcome with the second ball of the morning as nightwatch Andy Gorvin, whose bowling was restricted on day three because of a back spasm, edged to Rishi Patel at first slip, leaving the visitors six down.
There had been no addition to Glamorgan’s 126 runs overnight. But the early setback did nothing to diminish Glamorgan’s belief that, so long as Carlson survived, the requirement to score another 131 runs to win was within their capability.
That belief only grew stronger as an hour passed with no further successes for the home attack, who were a seam bowler short with Ben Mike, who landed painfully after slipping in his delivery stride shortly before Saturday’s close, off the field.
Two boundaries in Tom Scriven’s first over took Carlson into the 90s and as he and Chris Cooke completed a painstaking 50 partnership in 124 balls, the target was down to 81.
Moments later, though, one short of a second hundred of the season, Carlson was out, caught at the second attempt by first-slip Rishi Patel off his namesake, Ajaz, bowling his 21st consecutive over of left-arm spin from the pavilion end.
Yet Glamorgan continued to accumulate, with Leicestershire seemingly unsure whether they should attack or defend.
Holland claimed his fourth victim, this time with the new ball, as Cooke was struck in front, but with Mason Crane’s help, the veteran wicketkeeper had added another 37, with 44 needed.
Patel continued, and when he claimed another scalp in the next over, with lunch delayed by the fall of the eighth wicket, victory was in reach for the home side. Now Crane was gone, another lbw appeal upheld. Ray Toole’s resistance lasted only 12 deliveries before Holland found the edge to claim his fifth wicket.
Leicestershire face an anxious wait to discover if they will suffer any consequences as a result of the pitch after the match officials, led by referee Ian Ramage, asked for Andy Mackay, the ECB’s Pitch and Grounds Advisor, to carry out an inspection after the game concluded, which normally happens only if the pitch is marked as below average or worse and there are concerns about its preparation.
There were a number of occasions that the ball leapt off a good length, striking batters – and in one instance the Glamorgan wicketkeeper – on the gloves or helmet.
