County Championship: Handscomb and Hill boost Foxes

With Glamorgan resuming on 352-8, Scott Currie did not take long to complete his maiden five-for as Sam Northeast was given out for 61, caught down leg-side from the first ball of the day.

Mir Hamza then provided an erratic but entertaining cameo at number 11, hitting consecutive sixes for an unbeaten 24 before James Harris (18) was adjudged caught behind off Ben Mike’s short ball.

With ball in hand, Hamza then won the battle of two players making their final county appearances when Marcus Harris fell lbw for 14, and Timm van der Gugten’s first spell of the season removed Louis Kimber caught behind for one.

Rishi Patel started well but fell to the Cooke/ van der Gugten combination after lunch to leave the Foxes struggling at 65-3, only for Hill and Handscomb to revive their fortunes in steady and unhurried fashion.

Hill had to boot a Harris delivery away from his stumps on 48 as he nearly played on, but the pair accumulated steadily against some accurate seam and took their stand past the century mark just after tea.

Hill had struck seven fours and faced 188 balls in his best effort of the season as the partnership reached 141, before Harris’ barrage of short-pitched bowling saw Hill upper-cut to a diving Billy Root at third man.

Losing his partner did not disturb Handscomb’s equilibrium as he remained in control, despite the occasional low bounce, some gentle turn for Mason Crane, and a two-over burst of short-pitched seam from Marnus Labuschagne.

Debutant Ian Holland (16) fell to Harris with the third delivery of the new ball, but night-watchman Scott Currie resisted alongside Handscomb who reached his composed century off 160 balls to give the Foxes continuing hope of a first innings lead.