Draw hands Lancashire County Championship promotion

Lancashire have secured promotion back to County Championship Division One courtesy of their rain-affected draw against Leicestershire.

Bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire batted through the day at Old Trafford after wet weather in Manchester during the week had prevented the possibility of a result.

The winless Midlands outfit made 329 all out in reply to Lancashire's 453-7 declared, resulting in a draw that gave the Red Rose county 11 points from the contest.

That haul, combined with promotion rivals Essex's inability to beat Kent at Canterbury, means that the runaway Division Two leaders will return to the top flight after a one-year absence.