Surrey still foster hopes of saving game

A battling seventh wicket partnership between Gary Butcher and Alex Tudor has given Surrey a chance of preserving their unbeaten CricInfo Championship record at Grace Road.

Surrey have not lost a Championship game for 13 months - a run stretching back over 18 matches. They are still on the brink of defeat against Leicestershire - but could yet be saved by the weather.

Having been set an improbable target of 536 for victory, Surrey closed the third day on 281 for six. With Ian Salisbury unlikely to bat because of a foot injury, winning is hardly an option.

But thanks to an unbroken stand of 91 between Tudor and Butcher a draw could still be on the cards - if the weather intervenes. The forecast is certainly not great for the last day with thundery showers expected.

Leicestershire had hoped to have things wrapped up by the end of the third day, and would have done but for Tudor and Butcher.

There was still 25 overs and 90 minutes remaining when Tudor joined Butcher in the middle with Surrey on 190 for six. At that stage Leicestershire, even on a docile pitch, must have fancied their chances of victory and a day off.

But the seventh-wicket pair played with determination and concentration, the home attack wilted and, in the end, skipper Vince Wells didn't even request the extra half an hour with Tudor on 45 and Butcher on 26.

Earlier the Hollioake brothers had also played their part in keeping Leicestershire at bay with a fourth-wicket stand of 103 after Surrey had slipped to 55 for three.

Ben hit 59 - his first Championship half-century of the season - and Adam 64. Both will have been disappointed not to have gone on and scored a century. But Leicestershire will be even more disappointed if the weather now robs them of what should be a certain victory.