GRACE ROAD LATEST: Yorkshire frustrated in Leicestershire draw

A total of 60 overs were lost on the final day and Leicestershire held out for a draw, finishing on 157 for seven, still nine runs behind. But the 11 points Yorkshire pocketed took them into second place above Hampshire, while Leicestershire’s haul of eight points lifted them off the bottom of the table.

Steve Harmison took three for 52 and Azeem Rafiq two for 18 as Yorkshire pushed for victory, but a sixth-wicket stand of 67 in 24 overs between Wayne White and Ned Eckersley also added to their frustrations.

A heavy rain shower delayed the start by 75 minutes, but Yorkshire made up for lost time by taking three wickets in the 10 overs bowled before lunch with Leicestershire adding 38 runs to their overnight 57 for two.

The first to go was Ramnaresh Sarwan in the opening over of the morning from Harmison. He produced a handsome cover drive to the boundary before having his off-stump uprooted by a yorker for the second time in the match.

The early wicket boosted Harmison’s confidence, and he bagged another when he had first-innings century-maker, Matt Boyce, caught at short leg by Joe Root at the second attempt.

Yorkshire now had their tails up, and could scent victory when Leicestershire’s fifth wicket fell in the next over, Steve Patterson beating teenager Shiv Thakor with some extra pace to trap him lbw.

That had Leicestershire at 78 for five, still needing another 88 runs to make Yorkshire bat again. White hit 11 in an over off Harmison to improve the position slightly, but escaped when Adam Lyth at second slip dropped a low catch off Patterson.

Another heavy downpour caused a further 80-minute delay and the loss of 20 more overs in the afternoon, and the stubborn stand between White and Eckersley also put the brake on Yorkshire’s progress.

They finally removed White for 44 off 87 balls, with wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow taking a sharp catch off Rafiq but the celebrations were short-lived as more rain sent the teams off the field again with Leicestershire on 145 for six.

This time the hold-up lasted 70 minutes and play resumed with only 6.1 overs remaining.. Although Eckersley was caught at short leg off Rafiq, Leicestershire held out to draw the game.