Naik and Taylor thwart Derbyshire

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Grace Road:
Leicestershire 177 and 429-8 drew with Derbyshire 478-8 (Leics 6pts, Derbys 12pts)
11-14 August 2009

Match scorecard

---

Naik hit 19 fours in his maiden first-class century

Jigar Naik hit his maiden first-class century to help Leicestershire secure a draw with Derbyshire at Grace Road.

Needing to bat out the final day, the hosts slipped to 224-7, before Naik, whose previous highest score was just 16, combined with James Taylor.

The pair added 195, to set a new county record eighth-wicket partnership.

Taylor was eventually bowled by Greg Smith for 94, but Leicestershire reached 429-8 when a draw was agreed, with Naik still there on 109 not out.

After beginning the day on 154-2, needing a further 147 to avoid an innings defeat, Leicestershire lost both HD Ackerman (37) and Matt Boyce (80) with only eight runs added to the overnight score.

Ackerman hooked Tim Groenewald to Smith at deep square leg, while Stefan Jones had Boyce well taken by wicketkeeper Jamie Pipe.

Tom New, Wayne White and Claude Henderson all followed in the morning session, before Naik and Taylor turned the game on its head.

Naik, in just his 10th first-class innings, hit 19 fours in his 202-ball effort. And, although Taylor was dismissed deep in to the evening session, Derbyshire settled for a draw 15 minutes later.