Leicestershire openers Rishi Patel and Sheridon Gumbs impressively navigated tricky, bowler-friendly conditions to bat through the entirety of a heavily weather-affected day three against Yorkshire at Scarborough.

This 10th-round Rothesay County Championship match is heading for a draw, a result which could prove to be a healthy one for a Foxes side who are bidding to avoid relegation.

Patel and Gumbs returned to the crease at midday at 12 without loss in reply to a first-innings 263 all out following a delayed start because of a wet outfield. They took the score to 84 without loss.

There was no play beyond 3pm, with the rain having arrived. Only 31.5 overs were bowled in the day, taking the total lost in this match beyond the 140-mark. Umpires Ian Blackwell and Graham Lloyd called the day off at 4.35pm.

When play started, openers Patel and Gumbs had to contend with seam, swing and a touch of uneven bounce. That there wasn’t a major amount to say about the 70-minute morning session was credit to the right-hand, left-hand pair.

They quietly went about their business against the new ball, taking the lunchtime score to 43 without loss.

One Gumbs cover drive off Jack White before lunch and a Patel back foot punch through the same region off Ben Coad just after were particularly memorable.

The one aid for the visitors in terms of the conditions was a lack of pace in the pitch.

On another day, Yorkshire could have easily gained significant success, although they will be a touch frustrated that they weren’t at their best line wise.

This result will be more of a disappointment to Yorkshire than Leicestershire.

The White Rose county believe they can elevate themselves up into what is already a jam-packed title race as the Championship season draws to a thrilling conclusion. But they need to keep winning to back up last weekend’s success over Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl.

Having said that, they are not yet out of the woods relegation wise either. They started the round 17 points ahead of second-bottom Leicestershire and 27 behind leaders Nottinghamshire.

There was a knee injury concern for Yorkshire, with talismanic all-rounder George Hill leaving the field not long before play was halted. He had bowled two balls of his sixth over at that point.