Leicestershire v India: Robson & Smith punish tourists in draw

Smith and Robson added 221 for the second wicket against India at Grace Road

India's bowlers toiled on the third and final day as they drew their rain-hit opening tour match at Leicester.

The tourists had made 333-4 on the first day before the second was lost completely to the weather.

But Leicestershire, bottom of Division Two, made hay as Angus Robson (126) and Greg Smith (101) hit centuries, adding 221 before both batsmen retired out.

India, who used 10 bowlers, only took three wickets in the day as the county side finished on an impressive 349-5.

More rain meant only 62 overs were possible on the final day, the weather ensuring the result was not in question - if it even mattered in the first place, as the game did not have first-class status as India were able to give opportunities to all 18 of their touring squad, while Leicester utilised 14 players.

The match's status means Australia-born Robson is still waiting for his maiden first-class century, but it ends a memorable week for the family after elder brother Sam hit his first Test hundred for England against Sri Lanka at Headingley.

After losing partner Matthew Boyce cheaply, the younger Robson reached three figures from only 102 balls, and after Smith had matched his hundred with the Foxes on 249-1 from 43 overs at tea, the pair retired.

Dan Redfern then smashed 58 from 55 balls as India rotated their bowlers, including all seven seamers in their squad.

Ishant Sharma, whose first four-over spell had cost 41 runs, finished with 2-64 from nine while fellow paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0-46) bore the brunt of Robson's early rush of boundaries.

The tourists will be more pleased with their batting on day one, as all seven specialist batsmen in their squad enjoyed time in the middle while Shikhar Dhawan (60), Gautam Gambhir (54) and Cheteshwar Pujara (57) hit half centuries.

India remain in the East Midlands for a three-day game against Derbyshire which starts on Tuesday - their last game before the five-Test series against England starts at Nottingham on Wednesday, 9 July.