Pre-Season Opener Ends In Draw

Leicestershire’s pre-season opener ended in a draw after both sides shook hands early on day three at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Having taken eight wickets in the day, the Foxes were closing in on victory in the evening session when they agreed to call time on the meeting with Leeds/Bradford UCCE.

Declaring overnight on 530/6, with a lead of 427 runs, Leicestershire’s attack wasted little time in making inroads into the visiting batting lineup. Chris Wright “ who ended with superb match figures of 19-8-31-4 “ bowling Nico Boge (6), who erroneously opted to leave a ball destined for his stumps.

Aman Hussain and the again-impressive Tom Moulton made Leicestershire wait 22.4 overs for their next breakthrough, however. It took until the final ball of the morning session to displace the former, caught at deep square leg by Liam Trevaskis off the bowling of Alex Green for 26.

Green struck again in the second over after lunch, sparking a procession of cartwheeling wickets. After he bowled Tim Lloyd (4), Tom Scriven sent Stuart van der Merwe’s (11) and Charlie Dunnett’s (8) middle and off pegs rocking respectively “ leaving the students tottering on 93/6.

A further 16 overs of resistance, spearheaded by Moulton, began to frustrate the Foxes. The visiting number three showed a combination of obdurate defence and attacking flair as he reached fifty, whacking Trevaskis over long on for six at the start of the 46^th.

Leicestershire’s left-arm spinner had the last laugh, however, taking a smart return chance to send Moulton on his way caught and bowled for a well-made 62.

Ten further overs elapsed before two more wickets went down in quick succession. Stanley Brown was dismissed by Trevaskis for 14, while Ian Holland had Calum Fletcher bowled for a seven-ball duck.

Hands were shaken six balls later at 4:35pm, leaving Henry Pearson unbeaten on 40 for Leeds/Bradford “ who were still 242 runs in arrears. Two wickets apiece for Green, Scriven, and Trevaskis.

Leicestershire return to action on Wednesday at Uptonsteel County Ground, facing Nottinghamshire in their final pre-season test before they head to Glamorgan for their 2025 County Championship opener on 4 April.