Cricket / County Championship: Whitaker defiant

Leicestershire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 and 50-1

Glamorgan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .351 for 8 dec

THE vigil lasted almost five hours, though even then it was not quite long enough. James Whitaker's gallant 75 kept the opposition waiting, but when he was eighth out here yesterday Glamorgan wrapped up the innings smartly, and enforced the follow-on. Their eighth win in 13 matches should be a formality.

Heading the chasing group behind Middlesex, and 39 points adrift before the start of this round of matches, Glamorgan had been anticipating maximum points since reducing Leicestershire to 2 for 3 on Friday evening. When that became three down six overs into a new day they were off and running, but there was still the little matter of ridding themselves of Whitaker.

Whitaker responded well to having the leader's role thrust upon him, but he lacked support.

With Nigel Briers, the captain, nursing a severed tendon, Whitaker nursed a succession of batsmen along. After Leicestershire had slipped to 92 for 6, the best of these turned out to be Gordon Parsons. The left-hander made 36 in a stand of 68 and Glamorgan were relieved to see him go.

They were really celebrating when Tony Cottey brought off a stunning one-handed slip catch to account for Whitaker, who by then had faced 246 balls and struck 12 boundaries. Leicestershire, finally polished off 24 short of the necessary, were still 123 in arrears and one down the second time around after Steve Watkin collected his fifth wicket of the match by again accounting for Tim Boon.

Which leaves Glamorgan banking on 24 points, not to mention the arrival of Viv Richards, who has been attending his father's funeral in Antigua, for the Sunday league match today which could see them go top of the table.