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Another draw
By David Slater May 24 2003
The match at Grace Road ended as a "bore draw" as the rain prevented any chance of either team winning. Having taken a lead of 3 runs into the second innings, Middlesex were 142/5 when the umpires called procedings to an end.
Day 3 - No play due to rain

Day 2
The bowlers continued to dominate on a rain affected day at Grace Road as only 38 full overs were bowled. Simon Cook was the man of the day taking 4-33 and Chad Keegan took 3-40 as Leicestershire closed on 136-8, still trailing Middlesex by 65 runs.

No play was possible until after lunch due to rain, but when things did get underway, Brad Hodge and Darren Stevens battled well and put on a stand of 48 to move the score from 19-3 onto 63-3. Then, the bowlers took centre stage as Cook dismissed Stevens and Keegan accounted for Hodge. Cook continued to take regular wickets and removed Nixon, DeFreitas and Masters before any of them could really get their eye in.

An unbeaten stand of 24 between Jeremy Snape and Dave Brignull saved Leicestershire from further embarrassment as the players left the field for bad light with the score at 136-8. The return of the bad weather ensured that no more play was possible afterwards.

In a game like this, every run is vital and Middlesex will want to finish the job off quickly tomorrow, which is something they have found hard to do this year. However, there is a strong chance that more bad weather could play a further part in proceedings.


DAY 1:
Ashley Noffke Hit an important 40 and took an early wicket to aid Middlesex's recovery on day 1 at Grace Road. Middlesex slumped from 81-2 to 93-7 at lunch before Noffke's hand helped us to a priceless batting point. By the close Leicestershire had struggled to 19-3.

SCORES:

Middlesex 1st innings
*Strauss c Snape b DeFreitas 28
Koenig lbw b Masters 18
Shah c Nixon b Masters 28
Hutton lbw b Maddy 3
Joyce lbw b Maddy 0
Weekes lbw b Whiley 29
+Nash c Stevens b Maddy 3
Cook c Sehwag b Maddy 2
Noffke c Nixon b Masters 40
Keegan lbw b Maddy 32
Tahir not out 1

Extras 17

Total (all out, 54.1 overs) 201


Leicestershire 1st innings
Sehwag c Strauss b Keegan 10
Cunliffe c Nash b Noffke 0
Maddy c Nash b Keegan 0
Hodge b Keegan 22
Stevens c Weekes b Cook 29
Nixon c Nash b Cook 17
Snape c Cook b Keegan 54
DeFreitas lbw b Cook 9
Masters c Weekes b Cook 0
Brignull b Keegan 46
Extras 11

Total (60.0 overs, all out) 198

Middlesex 2nd innings
*Strauss c DeFreitas b Brignull 25
Koenig lbw b D L Maddy 18
Shah c Nixon b DeFreitas 9
Hutton not out 41
Joyce c Masters b Stevens 23
Weekes lbw b Masters 6
Nash not out 11
Extras 9

Total (49.5 overs for 5 wickets) 142


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