County claim 11 points from Derbyshire draw

RESULT | Day 4 of 4, Specsavers County Championship: Leicestershire CCC 381 drew with Derbyshire CCC 251 for 8 declared

SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo

REACTION | Leicestershire CCC Captain Michael Carberry spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae at the end of play

HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season

POINTS | Leicestershire CCC 11 points, Derbyshire CCC 10 points

REPORT | Leicestershire CCC produced another strong performance to claim 11 valuable points from a Specsavers County Championship draw against Derbyshire CCC.

The first two days of the game were lost to the elements but the Foxes had the better of play that was possible, posting 381 before the visitors replied with 251 for 8.

Lots of solid contributions were made throughout including Ben Raine, who scored 47, took 2 for 56 from 15 overs, and also claimed a sensational catch.

Ned Eckersley (54) and Neil Dexter (47) were in the runs today while Gavin Griffiths and Colin Ackermann also picked up a brace of wickets as Leicestershire CCC moved to 21 points from two games.

It felt as far away from summer as you could imagine when the players took to the field with a bitterly cold wind blowing down the ground.

Leicestershire CCC enjoyed a profitable opening session in recording two further batting points after adding 114 runs to their overnight tally of 267 for 5. Eckersley and Dexter resumed their 48-run partnership and continued to play well. 

Dexter played the shot of the morning with a lofted cover drive for six off Matt Critchley. The all-rounder was the first wicket of the day to fall, however; overseas seamer Duanne Olivier struck with his second delivery as the batsman left one that nipped back sharply to take out the off stump. 

All-rounder Raine joined Eckersley and was typically positive from the outset. Raine was effective driving through cover point and took every single available. Eckersley was the third Leicestershire CCC batsmen to reach his half-century (112 balls, 6x4).

Upon reaching 54, Eckersley looked to pull Ravi Rampaul but couldn’t quite get the ball over substitute fielder Callum Brodrick at mid-wicket. The fielder jumped up to take a good catch at the second attempt. 

Raine was cruelly run out three short of 50 before Griffiths (0) fell leg before wicket to Will Davis with County still 26 short of 400. Hardus Viljoen claimed the final wicket by trapping Varun Aaron (1) lbw.

County could not have started the innings any better, Raine striking in his first over getting Luis Reece (0) lbw while Aaron struck an over later by trapping dangerman Wayne Madsen (0) in front to claim his first wicket for the club.

Ben Slater and Alex Hughes began to rebuild the innings and had put on 34 for the third wicket when Raine struck for the second time, Eckersley doing the rest behind the stumps.

Derbyshire CCC captain Billy Godleman joined Hughes and the Leicestershire CCC attack bowled with superb control. Godleman was the next wicket to fall as Griffiths rapped him on the pads to leave Derbyshire at 54 for 4.

The visitors safely negotiated the rest of the session unharmed with Hughes moving to 35 and Gary Wilson unbeaten on 8 as the score moved to 84 for 4 at tea.

Aaron and Dexter opened the bowling in the final session and were always asking questions of the Derbyshire CCC pair. Dexter made the breakthrough as he got Hughes to play one on to his stumps for 42. 

Wicket-keeper Wilson and all-rounder Critchley steadied the ship and gave very little away during a 60-run stand. 

Griffiths worked hard to register the second bowling point and after seeing an edge slip away through the cordon, the seamer picked up his second wicket when Critchley smashed one to mid-wicket and Raine took a brilliant one-handed catch low to his left.

Wilson and Viljoen recorded a batting point for Derbyshire CCC before the latter holed out to Raine at deep mid-wicket off Ackermann for a hard-hit 43, and the off-spinner claimed a second wicket when Davis (6) offered the sharpest of return catches.

Derbyshire CCC picked up a second batting point from what proved to be the last ball of the game, Wilson collecting a boundary that took him to 64 not out (127 balls, 4x4, 1x6).

The day proved to be an entertaining and intriguing pursuit of bonus points for both sides, and Leicestershire CCC will look to build on their solid start at Durham CCC on Friday.

TEAM | Carberry (capt), Horton, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Eckersley (wk), Dexter, Hill, Raine, Varun, Griffiths, Klein.

FIGURES | Aaron 17-5-54-1, Raine 16-1-65-2, Griffiths 11-3-29-2, Klein 9-1-36-0, Ackermann 6-0-36-2, Dexter 9-1-20-1.

PHOTO | Thanks to John Mallett for the photo of Ned Eckersley batting.

* Leicestershire CCC First XI is next in action here on Friday, May 11 when Glamorgan CCC visit for a Specsavers County Championship fixture. You can follow the Foxes throughout the 2018 season by becoming a Member of the club. For further details on the advantages of joining us, please follow the link HERE