Holland leads Leics to win over Glamorgan

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Uptonsteel Grace Road, Leicester (day four)

Leicestershire151& 257: Gumbs 93; Ul-Hassan 3-46

Glamorgan 152& 214: Carlson 99, Cooke 33; Holland 5-19, Patel 3-41

Leicestershire (19pts) beat Glamorgan (3pts) by 42 runs

Match scorecard

Leicestershire's hopes of surviving their first season back in Division One after a 23-year absence gained a significant boost with a 42-run defeat of Glamorgan on day four at Grace Road.

It gave them back-to-back wins in the County Championship after failing to register any in their first seven fixtures - but they 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.

Chasing 257 to win on what had proved a hazardous surface - one that was inspected by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after the game - Glamorgan were bowled out for 214.

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.

As in the first innings, home captain Ian Holland was the key bowler, taking a remarkable 5-9 in 24 overs to give him nine wickets in the match.

New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who bowled his entire 29 overs unchanged - aside from a rest overnight - took 3-41, including the vital wicket of Carlson.

Leicestershire edged closer to their desired outcome with the second ball of the morning as nightwatch Andy Gorvin edged to Rishi Patel at first slip, leaving the visitors six down.

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.

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 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 and Ray Toole's resistance lasted only 12 deliveries before Holland found the edge to claim his fifth wicket.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.

Leicestershire head coach Alfonso Thomas:

"We had a few senior players missing, and Ben Mike wasn't able to bowl today after falling on his knee yesterday, so the attack wasn't the strongest we could put out.

"But the lads pulled together magnificently and in Ian Holland we have a real warrior, who leads from the front and commands respect in the dressing room. He reminds me of a Justin Langer type of character.

"On the pitch, it depends where the criticism is coming from. It was prepared exactly the same way as the pitch against Yorkshire, and no one complained about that.

"The only difference this time was that because of the circumstances leading into the game - we had a film crew here for a couple of days and then we had a One-Day Cup semi-final - we probably couldn't have the same moisture level, it was a bit drier than it could have been."

Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson:

"The way we fought, the courage and desire that we showed was really good, in tough conditions, so if we keep turning up and doing that, we will win more days of cricket than not.

"The ball seamed from ball one, and went up and down, so it was a tough one for the batters to play on. I'm not here to make decisions about the pitch but, as you say, people got hit, Ben Kelleway got two dismissals in the game that were completely out of his control. We'll wait and see what happens.

"It is not for me to decide whether we are title contenders or not, that's for other people. All we can do is play the best cricket we can and see where that takes us.

"But I'm really pleased with the way the season has gone. The effort and desire that the lads have shown, everything they have put in, that's all you can ask of them."

Leicestershire coach Alfonso Thomas told BBC Radio Leicester:

"I'm absolutely over the moon with the character the boys have shown from where we were on day one. Losing the toss, being put into bat, bowled out for 151, then bowling them out to make it a one-innings game was one hell of an effort.

"The team just got on with things, that was the difference between the two teams, one team focussed on cricket, the other team focussed a lot on the external conditions.

"We've prepped the wicket the same way as we did against Yorkshire, I don't think anybody moaned about that one.

"In what world are we turning up to watch people score hundred after hundred? If you compare it to the featherbed they produced in Cardiff, they are going to think every pitch is going to be a snake pit. I don't see that anybody has gone to hospital."

Glamorgan coach Richard Dawson told BBC Sport Wales:

"We showed a lot of courage and fight throughout the four days, Kiran deserved a hundred and played exceptionally well in tough condition and Chris Cooke also. The desire was brilliant but I am frustrated we couldn't get over the line.

"The pitch has done its stuff from ball one, it's been challenging for the batters. Sheridon Gumbs batted exceptionally well - him and Kiran played out of their skins to get runs on there.

"But from the first session the bounce, keeping low, seam, it was a tough one.

"(Points deduction) is not for me to decide, but I don't think I've seen as many people hit on the body over a period of time, on their gloves.

"Ben Kellaway had a tough time with his two dismissals. It was a tough one to watch, (wicket-keeper) Chris Cooke went up to the stumps and took one to the chest or throat."