Rain rules at Chelmsford

Tom Westley: hit a century to help Essex post a formidable first-innings total

Michael Thornely: made his second championship ton of the season for Leicestershire

David Masters: finished with figures of 7-60 against his former county

Essex and Leicestershire had to settle for a draw in their LV= County Championship Division Two match at Chelmsford.

Rain ruled out any possibility of a positive result, with only half an hour of play possible in the morning session before further showers after lunch led to stumps being pulled up shortly before 2pm.

That was still enough time for David Masters to claim yet another wicket against his former county, the Essex seamer finishing up with figures of 7-60.

The 34-year-old, who took 8-10 against the Foxes last season, dismissed Matthew Hoggard for 28, Harbhajan Singh hanging on to the chance to claim his fourth slip catch of the innings.

The breakthrough ended a 56-run stand for the final wicket between Hoggard and teenager Shiv Thakor, meaning the latter ended up unbeaten on 60.

Essex have now lost a total of 1,677 overs in the County Championship due to the weather - they picked up 10 points from the draw, while Leicestershire head home with seven.

Day Three

Michael Thornely's second LV= County Championship century of the season made sure Leicestershire avoided having to follow-on against Essex.

The former Sussex batsman, who was playing for the Unicorns earlier this season, made 115 to help the Foxes reach 336-9 in reply to the home side's 434-3 declared at Chelmsford.

Thornely, handed a two-year deal after scoring 97 and 131 on his debut against Glamorgan at the end of May, hit four sixes and eight fours in his impressive 236-ball knock.

Max Boyce (77) provided superb support in a fourth-wicket stand of partnership of 178 that was finally ended when David Masters struck immediately with the second new ball.

The veteran seamer would finish up with figures of 6-47 against his old county, including ending Thornely's efforts to leave the score on 248-5.

At that stage Leicestershire still had work to do to get beyond the follow-on mark, but a maiden half-century from teenager Shiv Thakor, who reached the close unbeaten on 53, saw them past 285.

Day Two

David Masters struck twice late on day two to put Essex in complete control of their LV= County Championship Division Two match against Leicestershire.

Openers Tom Westley and Jaik Mickleburgh both hit centuries to help the hosts post an imposing first-innings total of 434-3 declared.

The Foxes then fell to 32-2 by the close of play, ex-Leicestershire seamer Masters removing Greg Smith and Ned Eckersley.

Westley and Mickleburgh had earlier posted Essex's first double-century opening stand since Alastair Cook and Will Jefferson combined back in 2004, ironically also against Leicestershire.

It was Mickleburgh (136) who won the race to three figures, while his batting partner followed suit soon after as both men posted their third century for the county.

A run out eventually split the pair, but Mark Pettini (72 not out) and Ryan ten Doeschate, who finished up unbeaten on 63, added an unbroken partnership of 120 in a hurry before James Foster opted to declare.

Day One

Essex posted their highest opening partnership in the LV= County Championship this season on day one against Leicestershire.

Unbeaten half-centuries from Tom Westley and Jaik Mickelburgh helped the visitors reach stumps on 161 without loss at Chelmsford, with only 57 overs of play possible due to rain.

Mickleburgh struck 11 fours and a six on his way to 81 not out, his highest Championship score of 2012, although he is only playing in his third match.

Westley will resume on Thursday morning with 75 to his name, having found the boundary eight times. His highest Championship score of the campaign - 81 - came when the two teams met earlier in the year at Grace Road.

Although play started on time, rain soon interrupted proceedings and only

8.3 overs and 18 runs were possible before tea.

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