Grace Road, day three: Glamorgan 513-9 dec and 47-3 lead Leicestershire 435 by 125 runs with seven wickets remaining.

A MATCH that appeared to be drifting inevitably towards a draw was brought alive when Leicestershire’s bowlers took three Glamorgan wickets in the final half hour.

Charlie Shreck, getting the ball to swing late from the Bennett End, had James Kettleborough caught behind by Niall O’Brien, Tom Wells was fortunate to see Jacques Rudolph held by O’Brien leaping athletically down the leg-side, and Shreck trapped Will Bragg leg before wicket to leave the visitors 125 ahead with seven second innings wickets remaining.

Earlier, a composed 147 from Ned Eckersley, matching his first class career best, had helped the Foxes, who had resumed on 202-1, take their first innings score past 400.

Eckersley lost partner Angus Robson when just two runs had been added to the overnight score, the young Australia-born right hander losing his off-stump to a fine out-swinging delivery from Craig Meschede for 83.

Eckersley and new Leicestershire captain Mark Cosgrove then added 86 for the Foxes’ third wicket before Cosgrove, on 33, was bowled off the inside edge driving expansively at seamer David Lloyd.

Having reached his century off 177 balls, including 15 fours, Eckersley continued to bat patiently after the break, adding 59 for the fifth wicket with O’Brien, after Dean Cosker bowled Neil Pinner with a beautifully flighted delivery for 4.

Glamorgan’s hopes of forcing an unlikely win rose when Craig Meschede found some unexpected lift in the otherwise placid wicket to have first Eckersley, on 147, and just two balls later Tom Wells, caught by Cosker at second slip, leaving the Foxes on 356-6.

Ben Raine helped O’Brien pass 50, but seamer Andy Carter, on loan from Notts, knocked out Raine’s off-stump, and mopped up the Leicestershire tail in short order to finish with 4-95 and give the visitors a first innings lead of 78.