Weatherald's century powers Leicestershire past Glamorgan in 2026 County Championship

Jake Weatherald scored his first county century as Leicestershire reached 215-1 in response to Glamorgan's 440.

Glamorgan's strong start Glamorgan finished day two on 440 all out after batting through 142 overs. Mason Crane top-scored with 99, sharing key partnerships with Carlson (95) and Dickson (90). Left-arm seamer van der Gugten contributed 52 runs, while Holland took two wickets for 33 runs. The innings included a late stand of 133 between Crane and van der Gugten as they added to Glamorgan's total. ## Leicestershire's aggressive reply Leicestershire raced to 215-1 in 48 overs, led by Jake Weatherald's maiden county hundred. The Australian Test opener hit 104 not out before retiring hurt with cramp, having struck 14 fours in his innings. Rishi Patel matched the approach with 79 runs, combining with Weatherald for a 167-run partnership. Both batters enjoyed freedom against a Glamorgan attack that struggled to find consistent penetration on a docile pitch. ## Crane's near miss with the bat Mason Crane fell agonisingly short of a maiden first-class hundred, stumped on 99. His composed batting had carried Glamorgan from 334-7, adding 104 runs in 133 balls with van der Gugten. Crane hit 10 boundaries during his stay but eventually succumbed to a slog-sweep attempt against spin. The dismissal capped a strong all-round display that included important late-order runs. ## Weatherald's dominant display Jake Weatherald's innings of 104 not out set the tone for Leicestershire's chase. He reached his fifty in just nine overs before accelerating further, targeting boundaries regularly off Crane's bowling. Weatherald edged a delivery past slip on 97 but followed with a boundary off the next ball, continuing his assertive approach. His innings was cut short by cramp, though he is expected to resume later in the day. ## Partnerships define the day The second day saw two significant partnerships shape the match. Glamorgan's Crane and van der Gugten combined for 133 runs in 133 balls, while Leicestershire's Weatherald and Patel put on 167 for the first wicket. Patel's 79 included 14 boundaries before he fell to off-spin, having set a rapid pace early in the innings. Both sides benefited from batting-friendly conditions, though only one managed to capitalize fully. ## Bowling struggles on placid pitch Neither attack found much comfort on a batting-friendly surface at Sophie Gardens. Glamorgan's bowlers, including Holland and Davey, collected just four wickets despite long spells. Crane's leg-spin was dispatched quickly, while Leicestershire's spinners struggled for rhythm against the hosts' dominant batting. The lack of turn and pace made scoring straightforward, limiting opportunities for breakthroughs. ## Evening ends with Leicestershire in control As stumps were drawn, Leicestershire had reached 215-1 with Weatherald and Patel at the crease. The pair had added 167 runs in 27 overs, blunting Glamorgan's attack before Patel's dismissal. Weatherald retired hurt on 104, but night-watchman Davey remained alongside Holland (16 not out) at the close. The day concluded with just four wickets down across both innings, reflecting the pitch's true nature.