Notts run out of steam

Australian David Hussey was dropped twice © Getty Images

Top-of-the-table Nottinghamshire failed by 14 runs to make it five wins from six games in a thrilling finish to their rain-ravaged match against Leicestershire at Oakham School.

After two bold declarations by the respective captains Notts were set a victory target of 377 off 91 overs and finished on 363 for eight.

But both sides will feel they could have won the game. Notts were cruising at 311 for three and then lost five wickets for 50 runs in 11 overs.

Leicestershire will also be kicking themselves for not clinching their first championship win of the season by twice dropping Australian David Hussey, who made them pay by hammering 79 off 65 balls.

Each time the unfortunate bowler was Daniel Rowe and the culprit Nick Walker fielding at point.

Walker put down a simple catch with Hussey on 55 and then failed to cling on to a more difficult opportunity with the batsman on 64.

But the former Derbyshire seamer shook off that disappointment to come back strongly with a fine finishing spell of bowling that saw him claim the last three wickets to fall that wrecked the visitors' hopes of securing a victory they had seemed to have in their pockets.

Jason Gallian shared in an important opening stand

For the crowd however, it was fine entertainment with the home side batting on for a further three overs and adding 13 runs before declaring at 114 for three to set up the run chase.

Jason Gallian and Bilal Shafayat provided the sort of foundation Notts needed for the chase with a stand of 123 off the first 40 overs.

But the partnership was not without alarms with Walker twice having big appeals against Shafayat turned down, the first one for a catch behind by Paul Nixon. The bowler clearly showed his displeasure at the decision and Shafayat went on to make 45 before falling to the leg-spin bowling of Mansoor Amjad.

He was brilliantly caught by South African Garnett Kruger making his debut for Leicestershire. But in doing so Kruger dislocated his right thumb and was taken away to hospital for x-rays.

His absence seriously weakened Leicestershire's attack but Walker struck with the wicket of Gallian, who was taken at slip having made 60.

It was a partnership between Mark Wagh and Hussey however that swung the game in the visitors' favour. The two of them put on 126 in 20 overs with Hussey scoring 78 of the runs.

Then came the collapse. Wagh, on 78, skied a catch off Mansoor to Nixon and then Hussey top-edged another catch to the wicket-keeper off Rowe.

Those two wickets took the steam out of the Notts bid and with Walker dismissing Mark Ealham, Paul Franks and Graeme Swann Notts finally settled for a draw with Chris Read playing out the final over from Walker.

Notts took seven points from the game and Leicestershire nine.