Leicestershire languish as rain aids Worcs

Worcestershire, currently leading the National League Division One, faltered after being put in to bat by strand-in captain Steve Rhodes against Leicestershire at the New Road ground, until they were restred by the weather from their predicament. Their 108-8 total made from 38 overs seemed to be hardly enough.

With the Duckworth-Lewis system in application Leicestershire needed 118 runs to win. Then a downpour flooded the ground to the extent that umpires Roy Palmer and Tony Clarkson could do noithing other that abandon play shortly after 5.30 p.m. That left each side with 2 points much to the chagrin of Leicestershire who would have fancied their chances of reducing the eight points margin between themselves and their rivals.

Still there's always Wednesday when these two counties face each other again in the NatWest Trophy - provided that Worcestershire get through their replay with Gloucestershire the day before - and Leicestershire must be heightened by their opponents' unconvincing performance in what play was possible today.

Paul Pollard's run out for six runs at 12 put the host county under pressure from the outset, and they dd respond too well. Vikram Solanki (caught-behind, top-edge), David Leatherdale and Elliott Wilson, taken at point and square-leg respectively, followed quickly by 27-4. The manner of dismissal of Ryan Driver and Rhodes as the score edged up to 41-6 culd have done little for the confidence of those that followed them in.

Yet it was here in the middle-order that Stuart Lampitt (20) and Richard Illingworth (30) halted the decline while adding 48 runs in 19 overs for the seventh-wicket. It needed Stuart Lampitt (20) and Richard Illingworth (30) to bring a semblance of respectability to proceedings during a seventh-wicket stand of 48 runs in 19 overs. The latter's place in Tuesday's match must be uncertain after he damaged a thigh which called for him to finish his knock with a runner.