Seconds frustrated in bid to beat Derbyshire in Championship

SEC: Leicestershire Second XI 389 (Nixon 66, Pope 49, du Toit 48, Thompson 45) drew with Derbyshire 175 (Garside 3-59, du Toit 2-25, Masters 2-46, Kinch 1-12) and 136-4 (Thompson 2-17, Kinch 1-20, Sykes 1-52)

Rain frustrated Leicestershire Second XI’s hopes of forcing victory against Derbyshire at Grace Road last week.

The team led by 78 runs going into the final day, with Derbyshire only having six second-innings wickets in hand.

However, heavy downpours and thunderstorms forced the abandonment of the final day’s play, which meant County had to settle for a draw.

On day one, the team whittled out Derby for 175 in their first innings, with Kieran Garside the pick of the attack with 3-59.

Jacques du Toit and Dan Masters picked up two wickets apiece, while Liam Kinch sent down 11.1 overs for just 12 runs and also claimed a wicket.

County then made 389 in their only innings of the game, with club captain Paul Nixon top-scoring with 66.

Like the SET game in that week, there were good contributions all through the order.

Joel Pope (49), du Toit (48) and Thompson (45) all chipped in, while Lewis Hill was unbeaten on 38 and three other batsmen made scores of twenty and over.

Derbyshire were then struggling in their second dig, at 136-4 at the end of day two with Thompson taking 2-17 off ten overs to help set up a position of great strength.

However, the final day abandonment meant Derbyshire escaped with a draw.

County, meanwhile, could still take plenty from the game despite not having the opportunity to wrap up the victory.