Fifth draw for Foxes after rain washes out final day at Lord’s

Vitality County Championship, Division Two, Lord’s: Middlesex (407-8) drew with Leicestershire (306 all out). Middlesex 15 points, Leicestershire 12 points

LEICESTERSHIRE’S Vitality County Championship clash against Middlesex at Lord’s ended in a damp squib of a draw with no play possible on the final day, writes Jon Batham.

The hosts led by 101 with two wickets left going into day four, but the rain which washed out the first day’s action returned with a vengeance early on the final morning, drenching the outfield.

Umpires Paul Baldwin and Robert White gave the ground every chance to recover, calling an early tea at 3.10pm following a 2.35pm inspection.

However, further rain in the interim led to the abandonment of play at 3.25pm.

Middlesex earn 15 points to Leicestershire’s 12, leaving them both on 68 points, six shy of Division Two leaders Sussex.

However, Middlesex sit above the Foxes in the table on games won.

After Leicestershire’s fifth successive draw, head coach Alfonso Thomas, right, said: “As with other teams we’ve not had a game yet that hasn’t been interrupted by inclement weather but it is what it is.

“There were positives at times. Pete (Handscomb) after missing out on his hundred in the last game showed the guys you have to come to away games and be prepared to grind like Sam (Robson) showed yesterday (for Middlesex).

“We came off 550 against Derbyshire and 450 against Northants on good wickets, where perhaps this was the kind of pitch you had to earn the right to score runs and almost play that old school style of just trying to spend time out there.

“From a bowling point of view, we are an inexperienced bowling attack – we know that.

“There may be questions about why we haven’t gone for an overseas seamer, but that was a decision we made.

“Over the last five weeks the bowling unit has done well in stages.

“You get inconsistency from a young bowling attack. These guys are by no means the finished product if you compare our attack to the likes of Middlesex, who potentially have the best in Division Two.”