Leicestershire break record as Sutcliffe hits double ton against Glamorgan

Iain Sutcliffe scored a career best 203 to put Leicestershire in a winning position at the halfway point of their CricInfo Championship clash against Glamorgan at Cardiff.

Leicestershire were eventually dismissed for 588 in their first innings but not before the top three batsmen had reached three figures with Sutcliffe top scoring with his first three-figure score for four seasons.

It was the highest total by a visiting side to Sophia Gardens, beating the 584 amassed by Middlesex eight seasons ago.

The daunting total left Glamorgan needing 439 to avoid the follow-on and they started badly when Phil DeFreitas dismissed opener Ian Thomas in the sixth over to leave the home side 8-1.

But by the close Steve James and Matthew Maynard had guided their side to 52-1, leaving them a further 383 to make Leicestershire bat again.

Sutcliffe, started the day on 86, took an hour to reach three figures which he did from 182 balls with 13 boundaries. He went to his century with a fine square cut for four off Darren Thomas.

The Leicestershire left-hander was eventually dismissed after six hours in the middle when he was bowled by Steve Watkin, who claimed four wickets in all as Glamorgan managed two bowling points despite their attack coming out second best.

Abtab Habib also chipped in with a quickfire half-century but there was disappointment for Shahid Afridi who was dismissed for just two on his Championship debut.