Sunday, August 14th, 2016

Another Five Wicket Haul For Leach As County Claim Maximum Bowling Points

Another Five Wicket Haul For Leach As County Claim Maximum Bowling Points

Joe Leach claimed his fourth five wicket haul of the season as Worcestershire claimed maximum bowling points on day two of the Specsavers County Championship match with Glamorgan at New Road.

Vice-captain Leach took three more wickets today to finish with 5-106 from 22 overs as Glamorgan were dismissed for 280 – a first innings lead of 117.

It followed on from Leach's 5-115 against Essex at New Road, 5-99 away to Leicestershire and 5-70 versus Northamptonshire at Wantage Road to take his Championship wicket tally for 2016 to 45.

Ed Barnard (3-57) was the other main wicket-taker.

Glamorgan resumed on 118-5 with Will Bragg unbeaten on 75 and Leach made an early breakthrough when Owen Morgan (21) shouldered arms and had his stumps shattered.

Bragg straight drove and pulled Leach for four to move into the 90s but was fortunate when edging a delivery from the same bowler just wide of Ross Whiteley on second slip.

He was within two runs of his third Championship hundred of the campaign when Ed Barnard bowled him via an inside edge at 161-7.

Bragg faced 133 balls and struck 16 boundaries.

At that stage, Glamorgan were still two runs in arrears but Mark Wallace, who had opened the innings in the previous seven Championship matches, provided solid resistance in partnership with Graham Wagg.

The pair added 75 in 18 overs for the eighth wicket before Leach broke through twice in an over. Wagg (46) drove into the hands of Brett D'Oliveira at cover and Michael Hogan (40 lost his middle stump.

Wallace went to his half century off 63 balls with nine fours before Barnard ended the innings by bowling Lukas Carey (11).

That left Wallace unbeaten on 67.

When Worcestershire launched their reply, Brett D'Oliveira collected boundaries from a straight drive and cover drive at Craig Meschede's expense.

But on 16 he drove at Wagg and was caught behind by Wallace.

Tom Fell had a let-off on two when Wallace spilled a low chance off Wagg.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell looked in good touch and produced two handsome cover drives for four off Hogan.

But on 33 he pulled a delivery from Carey into the hands of Meschede at mid wicket with 58 on the board.