FORMER Leicestershire player Ben Smith denied his old club a third Frizzell County County Championship win of the season in a rearguard action for Worcestershire at New Road.

The 33-year-old batsman stayed for 59 overs to make an unbeaten 87 and shared in a century partnership with Gareth Batty as the hosts reached safety at 258 for five.

Scoring 371 was never realistic, but there was less time to survive after a 25-minute delay when the sun reflected from the sheet acting as a sight-screen on the Basil D'Oliveira Stand.

Seven of the 85 overs originally available to Leicestershire were lost before groundstaff wheeled in two portable screens from nearby King's School.

Mark Newton, Worcestershire's chief executive, promised a review of arrangements.

Leicestershire's hopes were high when Stuart Broad had Stephen Moore caught from the second ball of the second over and then soared when left-arm spinner Claude Henderson bowl-ed Graeme Hick behind his legs for 19.

Hard-hitting West Indian Chris Gayle set his own agenda with 10 fours in a 61-ball 57 before slicing a ball from Charl Willoughby to backward point.

Vikram Solanki (1) steered the same bowler to gully and Steve Davies (29) supported Smith until Darren Maddy held a fine catch at second slip off David Masters.

Smith hit 14 fours and a six from 170 balls and eventually equalled his personal best of 1,289 runs in a season.

Batty's equally important contribution amounted to 52 from 119 balls in an unbroken stand of 125.