County Championship: Rishi Patel ton steers Leicestershire to draw against Glamorgan

Rishi Patel led the way with a career-best 134 not out as Leicestershire comfortably batted out most of the final day against Glamorgan to secure a draw.

Glamorgan took a first-innings lead of 58 as they were bowled out for 465, Chris Cooke last out for 132.

But they scored slowly thanks to the Foxes’ disciplined attack, led by Chris Wright (5-89).

Much-improved Leicestershire now have 45 points from three games, including their opening win over Yorkshire, and Glamorgan 31 from three draws.

Glamorgan resumed on the final day at 446-8 but soon lost Andrew Salter, bowled by Wright for 13, leaving Cooke hitting out at everything and soon becoming Wright’s fifth victim.

Their scoring rate of three an over meant the match was running out of time, but Leicestershire were always likely to face an opening onslaught from the Glamorgan seamers and Sol Budinger soon edged Michael Neser to slip for one.

As Glamorgan tried to flog some life out of the pitch with short-pitched bowling, Patel smashed Timm van der Gugten over square-leg into the Milligan Road, while both he and Hill survived vociferous appeals for caught behind.

But the tension soon eased as Leicestershire were in the lead with nine wickets still standing at lunch, leaving Glamorgan needing miracles in the afternoon and getting no help from the pitch.

Patel plundered 18 off an Andrew Salter over on the way to an attractive century off 137 balls, with Hill looking set to join him until he inside-edged rival captain David Lloyd onto his stumps following a stand of 203.

Lloyd had Colin Ackermann caught in the deep for 12 but Patel, who had just survived a slip chance off Salter, lofted the first ball from occasional spinner Eddie Byrom for six to reach his personal milestone in the grand manner.

The match will be remembered for Cooke and Neser’s record eighth-wicket stand for Glamorgan, following Cooke’s involvement in a county sixth-wicket record stand with Sam Northeast at the ground in 2022.

As well as Patel’s effort, England’s Rehan Ahmed played the other most entertaining knock of the match in a reminder of his huge potential.

Leicestershire make the trip to Derby on Thursday, 4 May while Glamorgan are again on the road, away to Yorkshire.

Leicestershire batter Rishi Patel told BBC Radio Leicester:

“They were going to come hard at us before lunch, so it was about managing that, coming out the other side, making sure we played straight and made good choices.

“There was the odd ball that stayed low, but apart from that it stayed pretty true although there was still enough in it for the bowlers so I think the boys played well.

“It was about making sure I didn’t give my wicket away at the end, the 200 partnership came up in what could have been a difficult situation, Lewis played well and was unlucky not to get to his hundred.

“It was a monkey off the back to get the first century (against Yorkshire two games previously), so hopefully it opens the flood-gates because I feel I know how to score hundreds at first-class level, I’ve got a process I can trust and repeat.”

Glamorgan coach Matthew Maynard told BBC Sport Wales:

“It was an improvement on the last game (against Durham) which was what I was hoping for. To recover how we did and create some more history for the club was fantastic.

“I can’t fault the effort but the Leicester lads played really well and it was a super knock from Rishi Patel, and their skipper, to save the game.

“We were hoping for a bit of uneven bounce, but it didn’t really go up and down as much as we expected.

“With the (poor) weather around early in the season, we’re not going to set games up at this time at year, and full credit to Leicester who look a strong side this year, to (head coach) Paul Nixon and his staff for turning them around.”