JACK Brooks last night revealed his relief at getting his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

The 26-year-old former Oxfordshire paceman took 5-80 as Northamptonshire bowled Leicestershire out for 313 on day one of their LV= County Championship Division 2 match at Wantage Road.

Brooks claimed the first four wickets of Will Jefferson, Matthew Boyce, Paul Nixon and James Taylor to wreak havoc from the Lynn Wilson End, then wrapped up the innings by removing Claude Henderson.

Leicestershire were indebted to 164 off 140 balls from Australian international Andrew McDonald, but Northants ended the day well-placed on 32-0.

Brooks said: “I am relieved more than anything to be honest.

“I have had a couple of four-fers this season, but not finished off the tail-enders.

“I have been bowling well with the new ball first up.

“The conditions were good for seam bowling. You had to put the ball in good areas and hope for the best.

“A couple of catches stuck too, which always helps.”

Elsewhere, Alviro Petersen was the toast of Wales after an unbeaten 178 off 289 balls helped Glamorgan to 352-4 on the opening day of their clash with Surrey at the Oval.

The skipper’s first hundred for the visitors was complemented by Michael Powell’s 99 in a 225-run third-wicket stand in 57 overs, a new Glamorgan record against Surrey.