GRACE ROAD

(Final day)

Leicester (final day of four): Leicestershire (10pts) drew with Northamptonshire (10pts)

Lunch

Rain prevented any play before lunch at Grace Road after it began to fall shortly after breakfast.

Dark clouds, bringing with them the threat of further deluges, were threatening to cause an abandonment for the day with the match certain to be drawn.Leicestershire will be keen to get on the field to avoid a three point deduction for their slow over rate, while Northamptonshire will also want to get as much time in the middle as possible to increase their tally of batting points.

Prospects for any further play were, however, bleak.

Close

Play finally got underway at 2.30 but lasted only half an hour before bad light curtailed proceedings. Spitting rain began to fall shortly afterwards, making any further chance of play increasingly remote.

In the time that was possible, Leicestershire, who faced a three-point deduction for slow over rate, employed a spinner at either end to rush through 14.2 overs. Northamptonshire added a further 26 runs, taking them past 300 and with it a third batting bonus point. Leicestershire managed to bring their over rate back to the accepted level, meaning that they will not face a points deduction. As soon as they had done so, Leicestershire brought on a quick bowler, whereupon the batsmen were conveniently offered the light. No further play was possible thereafter.