Leicestershire dominate opening day as Ward hits hundred

Trveor Ward scored his third century in nine innings as Leicestershire dominated a rain-interrupted first day of the CricInfo Championship clash with Glamorgan at Cardiff.

Ward shared in an impressive 198 opening stand with Iain Sutcliffe with the visiting county taking full advantage of Vince Wells winning the toss.

And when bad light caused an abandonment 15 minutes from the close Leicestershire had reached the healthy position of 210-1 off 48 overs with Sutcliffe still there on 86.

Heavy overnight rain and morning showers meant no play was possible until 2.30pm with a total of 49 overs lost before and after lunch.

But by tea Ward and Sutcliffe had put Leicestershire in a healthy position at 118-0 in just 24 overs with both batsmen reaching half-centuries, taking advantage of some pretty average Glamorgan bowling.

Leicestershire reached 50 from just ten overs and then carried on the scoring rate to go to 100 in the 21st with skipper Steve James forced to use five bowlers in a curtailed second session.

Ward was first to go to his 50 off just 61 balls with Sutcliffe taking just nine deliveries more.

And Ward then took only a further 50 balls to reach his century out of 189-0.

Glamorgan's opening bowlers found it difficult to find their length and line. Steve Watkin went for 37 off seven overs while Simon Jones conceded 24 from his first five overs.

Watkin eventually secured the breakthrough when Ward drove straight at cover to end an impressive two-and-a-half hour innings that had included 14 boundaries.