A DILIGENT century from Dinesh Mongia, the India one-day batsman, put the misadventures of Glamorgan regarding overseas players into sharp focus yesterday. While Mongia scored his second hundred in successive championship innings, Glamorgan were contemplating a replacement for James Franklin, the New Zealand fast bowler.

Franklin was scheduled to arrive today on a one-year contract but has returned home at the end of the South Africa series because of a torn cartilage. Franklin was due to deputise for Michael Kasprowicz, the Australia fast bowler, who withdrew from a planned contract to concentrate on Test cricket.

The sequence of events has added more problems for Glamorgan, who lost both of their opening championship matches after being relegated last summer. They have already contacted agents to check the availability of other overseas players, but for the present must rely on Mark Cosgrove, who will also be absent later in the summer through commitments with Australia A.

On a slow pitch, Mongia played a cautious, out-of-character innings but followed his 165 against Essex last week with 142 not out, including 13 fours and a six, off 273 balls.

The Glamorgan attack was more persevering than penetrative, with Darren Maddy initially enjoying himself against Alex Wharf, who retaliated later by banishing the promise of a hundred from John Maunders, a top-edged catch at the wicket ending his worthy innings of 71. Mongia was undeterred by the early loss of Aftab Habib, while John Sadler warmed to his support role in an unbroken partnership of 155.

LEICESTERSHIRE: First Innings

J K Maunders c Wallace b Wharf 71
D L Maddy c Wallace b Davies 26
A Habib lbw b Watkins 4
D Mongia not out 142
J L Sadler not out 47
Extras (b 3, lb 5, w 5) 13
Total (3 wkts, 96 overs) 303
*J N Snape, P A Nixon, C W Henderson, S C J Broad, D D Masters and Mohammad Asif to bat.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-38, 2-57, 3-148.

BOWLING: Wharf 21-5-79-1; Davies 18-4-46-1; Watkins 19-5-50-1; Cosgrove 11-2-33-0; Croft 19-4-52-0; Cosker 8-0-35-0.

GLAMORGAN: D D Cherry, M J Cosgrove, D L Hemp, M J Powell, N Peng, R E Watkins, M A Wallace, *R D B Croft, A P Davies, A G Wharf, D A Cosker.

Umpires: J W Holder and R A Kettleborough.