Late resistance and rain - rescue an unlikely draw for Leicestershire
EIGHTH WICKET PARTNERSHIP STAVES OFF ANOTHER LOSS
Leicestershire 210 and 333-9 Sussex 450
Match drawn. Leicestershire 11pts, Sussex 15pts
DOUGHTY resistance, untimely showers and a flat pitch combined to thwart Sussex and secure Leicestershire an unlikely draw in the LV Insurance County Championship at the UptonSteel County Ground, Grace Road.
An eighth wicket partnership of 111 off 275 deliveries between Leicestershire’s Harry Swindells and Callum Parkinson, along with rain breaks that saw 27 overs lost, ensured the game went into its final hour.
Even though both young batters were eventually dismissed, hands were shaken with eight overs remaining and Leicestershire leading by 93 runs in light that prevented Sussex from using their pace bowlers.
Earlier, the visitors had looked certain to end a run of 17 championship matches without victory when, shortly after the start of play, teenage leg-spinner Archie Lenham had dismissed Rishi Patel with a ball that bounced a little more than the batter anticipated, took the inside edge and was well caught by Tom Allsop at short leg.
Patel had added just one to his overnight score of 67, and soon afterwards another of Leicestershire’s main hopes of turning the match around, all-rounder Ben Mike, spooned a drive at a widish delivery from Ollie Robinson - the first with the new ball - into the covers for Cheteshwar Pujara to take a good low catch.
At that stage Leicestershire were 209-7 and still needed another 31 simply to make Sussex bat again, but Swindells and Parkinson dug in, clearly determined not to give their wickets away.
With little assistance from the pitch, Sussex captain Tom Haines tried all his bowlers, and Robinson reverted to off-spin, but Swindells, who has been out of form with the bat this season, began to find a semblance of confidence, and Parkinson, whose previous three innings had seen him score 86 runs and been dismissed only once, bristled with defiance.
Afternoon showers helped the Foxes’ cause, and Swindells went to his 50 off 137 balls before failing to keep an off-drive down and seeing Aaron Beard take a fine one-handed catch low to his left in the covers.
Rawlins, the successful bowler, then picked up another wicket when he bowled Parkinson, then on 45, with a quicker delivery, but the final pair of Chris Wright and Beuran Hendricks held on as the dark clouds once again closed in.
Swindells said afterwards: “We knew we were in trouble losing Rishi and Ben (Mike) early, but Parky has been batting really well this season, facing a lot of balls, and he applied himself brilliantly. I just tried to stick with him and get a bit of momentum.
“This wasn’t a win, but we’ll take confidence from the way we fought today.”
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO