Day 2: Habib refuses to fold quietly

By Charles Randall at Old Trafford

Second day of four: Leics 218-7 v Lancs

ANYONE trying to assess how Leicestershire have managed to rise to third in the table would be tested, but yesterday's batting effort at Old Trafford, led by Aftab Habib, gave a few clues.

The continuing pattern of failure in their upper order was balanced by Habib's excellent 56, and Leicestershire's score was tugged towards respectability by Paul Nixon and Carl Crowe late on a grey day which had lost the morning session to rain.

Lancashire seemed to hold all the aces when they won the toss and whipped out Vince Wells, pinned by the fourth ball of the day, and Darren Maddy for ducks on a greenish pitch offering pace and bounce. Ben Smith, in good form, nudged down his wicket turning Wasim Akram to leg.

The swinging ball frequently fizzed past the outside edge, and Habib gave an early chance to Mike Watkinson at third slip off Glen Chapple, which, if held, would have reduced Leicestershire to 61 for five.

Leicestershire did not fold quietly, which illustrated the resourcefulness that has served them well this summer. Habib suffered many minor defeats, but a wide stroke range and bags of luck won him the battle.

Habib was close to cashing in for a big score against the odds when Paddy McKeown, in goalkeeping terms, plucked out a drive bound for the top corner, a catch at cover point verging on the sensational.

Crowe had the final say when his hook off Akram flew off the top edge over the wicketkeeper's head for six.

Chris Lewis, the Leicestershire all-rounder, issued an apology yesterday and he has been fined an undisclosed amount by Leicestershire for his recent derogatory comments on England's selectors.