Derbyshire were denied the chance to claim their first Specsavers County Championship win of the 2016 campaign with Ned Eckersley leading a battling Leicestershire tail by scoring his second century of the match.
At the start of the final day, all four results were still possible, with Derbyshire needing early wickets to have a chance to claim victory. It did not materialise, however, as Eckersley continued to be the scourge of the Derbyshire attack, hitting 104 as his side declared on 295-9 to set their visitors 313 to win in the last session.
As the hosts had done in their second innings, Derbyshire suffered an early wobble, but Wayne Madsen and Shiv Thakor steadied the ship to be unbeaten on 42 and 31 respectively when the two sides shook hands on a well-fought draw shortly before 6pm.
Throughout the first hour-and-a-half of the day, Eckersley and overnight partner Niall O’Brien defied the Derbyshire seamers and it was left to the left-arm spin of Callum Parkinson to grab the breakthrough when O’Brien edged him behind on 35.
The first-class debutant continued his impressive all-round performance after lunch when he bowled Clint McKay (13) for the second time in the match. The 19-year-old claimed second-innings figures of 3-88 to collect 7-178 in the match, alongside his 48 not out with the bat.
The final Leicestershire wicket to fall was that of Eckersley who fell to Chesney Hughes’ second ball, shortly after completing a 170-ball century.
Rob Jones (22 not out) added late runs to take his side’s lead past 300 before the Foxes declared on 295-6 at tea to leave the visitors with an unlikely target of 313 in a session.
The task was not helped when Billy Godleman (0) and Chesney Hughes (one) both fell early on, and then Ben Slater, who had offered a degree of resistance, was out for 24.
Neil Broom could only add one to the total, but Madsen and Thakor batted without fuss to ensure their side would not be in danger of defeat.
By the time the draw was agreed, Derbyshire were 104-4 with Madsen on 42 not out and Thakor on 31 not out.
Both teams claimed 11 points from the fixture.
Derbyshire host their first ever Real Ale Beer Festival on Day One and Day Two of the Specsavers County Championship fixture versus Essex, on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August. To book your tickets, or for more information, please call 01332 388 101, email [email protected] or buy online HERE.
