Darren Lehmann defied bad weather and the Derbyshire attack to gain Yorkshire a batting bonus point on a rain ruined day at Derby yesterday.

In the 22.3 overs which were possible in between long interruptions for heavy showers, the Australian left-hander moved on from his overnight 38 to a carefully accumulated 59, taking Yorkshire to 216 for seven and whittling down their first innings deficit to 87.

With so much time lost to the weather, the game would seem to be heading for a draw unless the captains can come to some sort of agreement today.

Lehmann, so often the lavish entertainer, has shown great responsibility in trying to rescue Yorkshire on this occasion and his innings has so far spanned 45 overs, his runs coming off 137 balls in 167 minutes with four boundaries.

It was Lehmann's third consecutive Championship half-century from the start of the season and followed scores of 95 against Derbyshire and 85 off the Hampshire attack, both matches being played at Headingley.

Derbyshire were still without Tim Munton who had spent the previous day at hospital having 40 stitches inserted around his eyebrow after being struck by a ball while practising in the indoor nets.

Once again, Paul Aldred carried out 12th man duties and he was involved in the action when Gavin Hamilton fell with the score on 180.

He edged Matthew Cassar to second slip and there was a feeling the ball may have bounced first before Aldred threw it into the air.

Umpires Ray Julian and John Steele walked towards each other to confer but as soon as Aldred nodded to Hamilton that the catch was clean the batsman unhesitatingly marched off.

James Middlebrook just had time to settle in with Lehmann before another long interruption and on the re-start he played some confident shots, cutting Cassar for two and four in one over.

Only 5.3 overs were possible, in this session, however, before heavy showers returned and when these turned into persistent rain during the tea interval play was abandoned for the day.

Today's cricket

PPP healthcare County Championship - Division One

Leicester: Hampshire 229 (Aymes 74no), Leicestershire 212-6 (Habib 63no)

Division Two

Hove: Sussex 258 (McGrath 5-54), Worcestershire 89-2.

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 215 (Welton 74, J Lewis 5-55), Gloucestershire 212-6 (Alleyne 122no).

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 400-8 dec (Ostler 144, 68, D Law 5-78), Essex 8-0

Second XI Championship

Scarborough: Durham 244 and 72-1 (Daley 41no), Yorkshire 260.

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