Solid Smith turns on the style

Despite 50 overs being lost to rain over the first three days, this match seemed to have every chance of a positive outcome. Hampshire's overnight lead of 113 was balanced by the loss already of four second-innings wickets, offering Leicestershire hope of batting last with an attainable target if they could take early wickets.

The trouble, perhaps, was that just as both sides, second and third in the First Division table, would have welcomed a win to keep the leaders Surrey from running away, neither was keen to let the other enjoy the benefits, particularly Hampshire. Draws have kept them in the hunt this season; this was their seventh so far, the sixth in a row.

The fate of the contest was effectively sealed in the opening session, which belonged to Robin Smith. The former England batsman turned his unbeaten 40 overnight into his second century of the season with a carefully crafted innings that blunted every effort of Iain Sutcliffe, standing in as Leicestershire captain, to engineer a breakthrough.

On a pitch playing as easily as it had at any stage, Smith did not offer a chance, gathering 18 boundaries. Much credit was also due to John Francis, a 21-year-old left-handed batsman in his first appearance of the summer for the county. The Loughborough University student, who made his debut last summer, can expect to keep his place after an innings revealing commendable application and high technical quality.

Francis shared a partnership of 124 with Smith, which ended when the latter was leg before to Darren Maddy as Leicestershire at last enjoyed success three overs after lunch, and went on to ensure continued frustration for the home side by reaching a career best 82. By the time he was ninth out at 273, too few overs remained for Leicestershire to mount a realistic run chase.

Only an excellent spell from Maddy, which yielded four wickets for 14 in 10 overs, offered hope of tilting the balance. Maddy bowled with intelligent variety, mixing his skiddy stock ball with other deliveries pushed through noticeably quicker and the odd well-disguised slower one.

He was fortunate, perhaps, to win the decision against Smith, who looked forward, but followed up by nipping one back to bowl Nic Pothas with the next ball. Later he found the edge to remove Dimitri Mascarenhas and then yorked Shaun Udal. For good measure, Maddy held a sharp slip catch off Devon Malcolm to remove Francis.

Leicestershire promoted Philip DeFreitas to lead the chase but a target of 295 off 36 overs always looked too steep and was never seriously pursued, the captains settling for 10 points each for a draw at 5.30pm.