Wells century defies leaders Yorkshire

Leaders Yorkshire were denied victory in three days by a battling unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 113 between Leicestershire captain Vince Wells and all-rounder Phil DeFreitas in their CricInfo Championship clash at Grace Road.

Now they will be looking anxiously at the weather with heavy rain forecast for the final day. If that proves correct then Leicestershire could yet salvage a draw, having been 53 for five in 13 overs after being set an unlikely victory target of 539.

But with Wells leading by example to score his second Championship century of the season, Leicester finished the day at 245 for seven after Yorkshire had claimed the extra half-an-hour in a bid to clinch the win that would take them a step nearer their first title in 33 years.

Wells finished on 123 not out and DeFreitas on 47. They came together with the score at 132 for seven and their partnership was spread across 32 overs and nearly two hours.

Wells faced 167 balls and hit 18 fours and a six to spearhead the rescue act just when it seemed that his side were on the way to a heavy defeat.

Fast bowlers Steve Kirby and Paul Hutchison wrecked the top order with a hostile opening spell, Kirby taking three for 37 and Hutchison two for 21. Kirby was also involved in a verbal exchange with Wells and told to calm it by his captain David Byas after umpire Bob White stepped in to help defuse the situation.

Darren Maddy and Wells then laid the foundations for the recovery with a stand of 69 for the sixth wicket before DeFreitas joined his captain in a resilient partnership which frustrated the Championship leaders.

If rain does intervene to save Leicestershire then Byas might be regretting delaying his declaration until 15 minutes after lunch. By then Yorkshire had made 429 for eight and led by 538. Darren Lehmann hit 193 and Byas 100.