Cosker spins Glamorgan to an innings victory

The fickle nature of the maritime microclimate, plus the recent weather patterns with rain-laden depressions moving in from the Atlantic Ocean, has meant that the Leicestershire batsmen have so far had the worse of conditions at the St. Helen's ground. On Wednesday, they were undone whilst batting under leaden skies by a high-class mix of swing and seam, before the clouds rolled back on Thursday as Glamorgan's batsmen feasted on the visiting attack in warm and balmy conditions. Then yesterday, the cloud and drizzle returned as Leicestershire batted again, 305 runs in arrears, although the meteorological conditions did come to their aid as 38 overs were lost in late afternoon.

It must have been with something of a sigh of relief that the visitors arrived this morning at the St. Helen's ground in warm and sunny weather, and with a decent forecast for the day's proceedings as they looked to survive the minimum of 96 overs which were remaining in the contest. However, their greatest concerns may not lie in the overhead conditions, but instead in matters on terra firma as the worn wicket increasingly assists the Glamorgan spinners.

Indeed, it was Dean Cosker who began proceedings at the Pavilion End as Ned Eckersley and Shiv Thakor resumed at 11a.m. with Leicestershire on 134/2, but within three balls it was 134/3 as the wily spinner had Thakor caught behind as he propped forward. At the Mumbles Road End, Michael Hogan continued his probing spell , whilst Mattheew Boyce got off the mark with a sweep for four against Cosker. Eckersley then pulled a short ball from Hogan for four before punching Cosker off the back foot through the covers.

Boyce added to his boundary tally by straight driving Hogan, followed next ball by a steer through the slips before Eckersley greeted the return of Jim Allenby by cutting his first delivery for four. Cosker then switched to the Mumbles Road End and ended Boyce's innings as the visiting captain edged to Allenby at slip. 175/4 then almost became 175/5 as Tom Wells edged his second delivery into and out of Wallace's gloves as the wicket-keeper nearly grasped the ball.

Next over, Cosker struck again as Eckersley edged to Ben Wright at short-leg before
Hogan switched as well to the Pavilion End, and without further addition clean bowled Wells as the visitors subsided to 178/6. Seven runs later Ben Raine nearly edged Cosker to leg-slip before celebrating his good fortune by on-driving Andrew Salter for four. Josh Cobb also drove the youngster for a pair of off-side fours, the latter of which brought up the visitor's 200.

Cobb then used the long handle against Cosker lofting him straight for six before almost edging Salter to short-leg. But with the total on 212, the young spinner ended the jaunty stand as Raine edged to Allenby at slip. One run later Cosker struck again as he bowled Ollie Freckingham as he unwisely shouldered arms, before Salter had James Sykes caught at second slip.

With his side on 218/9, Alex Wyatt defiantly struck a couple of fours against Salter before swatting Cosker for four. Cobb then drove Salter straight for six before Wyatt steered him through point for four. This flurry of runs - and the delay to lunch - prompted the new ball being taken in the 85th over but Wyatt continued to drive freely whilst Cobb hoisted Cosker straight for six before Graham Wagg returned to the attack as Wyatt brought up the fifty stand from 51 balls. But two balls later he edged the left-armer to Hogan at second slip as Leicestershire subsided to their third successive innings defeat.