Early Inroads Give Leicestershire Encouragement on Day One

By Blake Bint

Kiran Carlson and Sean Dickson’s endings in the nervous nineties were enough to give Glamorgan a positive start to their first Rothesay County Championship Division One clash with Leicestershire since 2001.

The hosts finished 334 for 7 thanks to a steadying 126-run partnership after an early wooble. Carlson (95) and Dickson (90) took advantage with the latter given the opportunity due to Ben Kellaway ruled out with a hip injury sustained against Nottinghamshire.

Ian Holland and Josh Hull enjoyed spells of success picking up two wickets apiece and Ajaz Patel bowled 30 overs on the opening day in the absence of Rehan Ahmed who has joined up with Delhi Capitals in the IPL but Glamorgan’s 69-run unbeaten partnership for the eighth wicket ensured they will come back tomorrow with an opportunity to build on a strong start.

Glamorgan won the toss and decided to make first use at Sophia Gardens, seemingly with the view for Mason Crane to have full control of the game in the fourth innings – a story already told in the season opener at this ground in a tight draw with Yorkshire.

Holland took no time in getting the first wicket on the board, pushing one across Eddie Byrom to draw the edge on the Leicestershire skipper’s third ball. The American international’s opening spell was typically Holland-esque. His dominance of the Glamorgan top order, returning 2 for 7 from 12 overs, was a near carbon copy of this fixture as the start to the Division Two season last year where he dismissed three of the Glamorgan top five in the first session on day one.

Carlson’s reassurance from 23 for 2 along with starts from Asa Tribe and Colin Ingram both offered brief stability before Josh Hull’s extra pace, combined with loose shots, had Glamorgan four down by lunch.

Dickson marked his territory on the number six position in his fortune of Kellaway’s absence. He looked the fluent self he would be remembered by for his white-ball prowess demonstrated at Somerset in the last two seasons.

Carlson and Dickson in their century partnership both had spells of dominating bowlers – two fours in three balls off Ben Green followed by cutting Hull for two fours the following over was typical Carlson business at the crease.

Dickson also enjoyed three consecutive boundaries with showings of touch and power off Josh Davey to motor his innings, pushing the partnership past 50 in the process.

Despite Glamorgan’s choice at the toss Leicestershire were never out the game. Carlson’s untimely dismissal when picking out short-leg on his charge down the wicket left him short of his ground. Dickson motored to his best first-class score since May 2022 when he scored twin centuries for Durham before fiddling at one outside off-stump from Green.

Ajaz Patel attempted to hold an end up with a 14-over spell in the afternoon session but struggled to offer much control against the imposing Carlson and Dickson. The New Zealander’s 1 for 111 still showed signs of promise for both sides’ spin options for later days. Glamorgan’s sole frontline spinner – due to Kellaway’s injury – Mason Crane had plenty of time to assess the pitch for it’s his turn to bowl, contributing 48 not out with the bat in a faultless partnership with Timm van der Gugten to swing momentum in Glamorgan’s favour.