Last-wicket pair in century stand

Patience, self-discipline and the ability to graft carefully for runs were the qualities most in demand on a bleak day here yesterday. They were not as abundant as you might have expected in Leicestershire's ranks and but for Darren Maddy plus a last-wicket partnership of 101 between Paul Nixon and James Ormond they could have been embarrassed by some combative Gloucestershire bowling.

They may no longer have the hostility of Courtney Walsh or, indeed, the subtlety of Javagal Srinath, but in many ways Gloucestershire's attack was ideal for these conditions - a slow, seaming pitch and a day which, with a chill east wind, was surely not meant for out-and-out fast bowling anyway.

But, with overcast skies from the start, it was certainly a day for steady medium pacers able to locate a good off-stump line, put the ball regularly on the spot and await developments; and these, as Maddy stood firm at one end, were more encouraging than Gloucestershire probably dared hope from the champions' middle-order batting.

Maddy looked increasingly a batsman to watch and enjoy watching. You bowl at his legs at your peril. The ball is usually whipped away, sweetly timed, through mid-wicket. He is also clearly his own severest critic and after edging Mark Alleyne just past second slip, he allowed himself no more frivolities around off stump.

It was just as well. At the other end, once the nightwatchman Adrian Pierson had been picked up at slip off Jonathan Lewis, things did not go quite as Leicestershire must have expected, assuming that Plan A was to occupy the crease all day or as long as possible.

James Whitaker never got established and is probably rarely at his best on pitches like these where the ball is never quite there to be hit. Early on, he almost provided Shaun Young with an eminent first victim in county cricket, but the Australian could not hold a return catch as he followed through.

Soon afterwards, crease-bound, he was bowled by Alleyne. Gregor Macmillan's first error of judgment outside his off stump was his last and after some four hours of compact, controlled batting Maddy was obviously disgusted with himself when he was caught at slip off a ball he probably could have left alone.

When David Millns was leg before sweeping at Martyn Ball, Nixon and Ormond found themselves together with their side still 39 adrift. But Nixon's tenacity in these situations is well known and Ormond showed he is some way from being the worst No 11 around. Indeed, he looked well organised enough to attract a short ball from Lewis which struck him on the helmet. That apart, he operated with some comfort on the front foot.