Glamorgan facing heavy defeat by Leicestershire

Leicestershire were on the verge of an impressive CricInfo Championship victory at Cardiff as Glamorgan's batsmen pressed the self-destruct button.

The Welsh county were bowled out for a paltry 211 on a good Sophia Gardens wicket and then, following on 377 behind, found themselves 15-2 before heavy rain brought an early abandonment of the third day's play.

Only Robert Croft shone with the bat as the rest of the Glamorgan batting crumbled in their first innings with Phil DeFreitas recording figures of 6-65.

Croft was dismissed for 89, an innings that came off 112 balls with 16 boundaries.

Glamorgan began day three on 52-1 but by lunch had been reduced to 147-5, still needing 292 to avoid the follow-on.

Replying to Leicestershire's first innings of 588 was always going to be difficult but Glamorgan's batting this morning was little short of irresponsible.

Skipper Steve James flashed at a wide one from DeFreitas to be caught behind, Matthew Maynard was needlessly run out attempting a fourth run and Mike Powell clipped a Devon Malcolm leg stump half volley straight at mid-wicket.

After lunch Croft and Adrian Dale gave Glamorgan some hope, putting on 71 but the last four wickets then fell for just 30.

Following on, James was out for the second time in the day. This time only surviving until the fourth ball of Devon Malcolm's opening over before edging to first slip.

And 0-1 became 6-2 three overs later when John Dakin forced Ian Thomas to glove behind.