Derbyshire salvage draw

Charl Lageveldt struck twice to end Leicestershire's victory charge at Derby

James Allenby and Tom Smith steered Leicestershire to the brink of an unlikely victory before Charl Langeveldt saved Derbyshire from defeat with two late wickets.

Leicestershire were staring down the barrel at 100 for six chasing 220 from 58 overs but Allenby and Smith added 93 to put their side back in the hunt.

The visitors needed 27 from the last four overs but Langeveldt held a sharp return catch to remove Smith for 42 and when Claude Henderson holed out to long-on, Allenby and Nadeem Malik guided Leicestershire to 202 for eight to secure a draw.

It was an enthralling end to what had been a tense final day that started with Leicestershire striking an early blow when Derbyshire lost the key wicket of Wavell Hinds without a run added to the total.

The former West Indies Test batsman went for a big swing at the fifth ball of the morning and was bowled by Henderson for 33.

When Greg Smith was lbw to a ball from Malik that nipped back and Jon Clare was pinned in front by a quicker ball from Henderson, Derbyshire were 153 for seven, only 172 runs in front.

But Dan Birch, who was suffering from a stomach upset, came out to join Jamie Pipe in a stubborn stand that crucially used up 23 overs.

James Allenby finished up on 72 not out for Leicestershire

Leicestershire did not help their cause when HD Ackerman put down a low chance at first slip off Malik when Birch was on eight and it was another 14 overs before they broke the eighth-wicket stand.

Birch, who was clearly unwell, showed character to battle it out until he edged Smith into Paul Nixon's gloves in the penultimate over before lunch.

Jamie Pipe was superbly caught off Henderson by Tom New at short leg for 20 before Smith took his third wicket when he removed Wagg's middle stump and the wickets continued to tumble when Leicestershire began their chase.

Matt Boyce edged a lifting ball from Langeveldt to gully and when New skied a wild hook at Wagg and was well caught by Dominic Telo running back at square leg, the visitors were 23 for two.

Jacques Du Toit played across Wagg and was lbw for 18 and Derbyshire began to scent victory when Boeta Dippenaar pushed a return catch back to Wagg to leave Leicestershire on 43 for four.

Wagg had taken three for 24 in eight overs but Leicestershire recovered briefly until Ackerman sliced a drive at Hinds to gully to leave his side in deep trouble at tea on 88 for five.

Nixon had batted for three hours in the first innings but this time he survived for only six overs before Wagg found some extra bounce to have him caught at second slip for 11.

But Allenby and Smith gave the match another twist and the odds had swung firmly towards Leicestershire until Langeveldt's late double strike forced Allenby, who ended on 72 from 127 balls, to call off the chase.