LEICESTER, England, (CMC) – West Indies fell short in their bid for a victory and had to settle for a draw in their opening match against Leicestershire on their tour of England yesterday.

Their own poor fielding, as well as dogged batting from the home team combined to frustrate the West Indies’ efforts and Leicestershire finished on 238 for six in their second innings on the final day of the three-day match at Grace Road.

Lanky left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn claimed two wickets in the space of four overs to create a bit of excitement after lunch, but Leicestershire through the efforts first of Matthew Boyce with 55 and Joshua Cobb with 53, then stand-in captain Boeta Dippenaar, the former South Africa player, held firm.

Benn was the most successful Windies bowler with two wickets for 53 runs from 25 overs to end with six wickets in the match.

But West Indies were held up throughout the morning period, when Boyce and Cobb added 104 for the second wicket.

They had only themselves to blame, when Darren Sammy dropped Boyce, on 33, at second slip off Lionel Baker.

Lendl Simmons then failed to latch onto a chance at square leg, when Boyce, on 37, mistimed a pull at a short, rising ball off the same bowler.

Simmons however, made amends, when he had Boyce caught at extra cover for the Leicestershire top score two overs before lunch.

Benn had Cobb caught behind in the first over after the interval, and soon had James Taylor caught at slip with the first innings deficit of 138 still not erased.

West Indies failed to dislodge Dippenaar who batted for more than three hours to score 40 not out and share a 51-run stand for the fifth wicket with Wayne White as they significantly ate into the remaining time.

West Indies continue their preparations for the Test series with another three–day game against Essex at Chelmsford, starting on Saturday.

LEICESTERSHIRE 1st Innings 182 (M Boyce 45; S Benn 4-31)

WEST INDIES 1st Innings 320 for 6 declared (L Simmons 102 ret., A Wyatt 3-42)

LEICESTERSHIRE 2nd Innings (overnight 51 for 1)

M Boyce c Richards b Simmons 55

+T New c Sammy b Richardson 0

J Cobb c wkp Ramdin b Benn 53

J Taylor c Simmons b Benn 5

*B Dippenaar not out 40

W White c wkp Ramdin b Baker 18

C Crowe b Sammy 16

J Naik not out 16

Extras (b18, lb13, w1, nb3) 35     

TOTAL (for 6 wickets – 91 overs) 238

Did not bat: J Allenby, H Gurney, A Wyatt

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-117, 3-129, 4-134, 5-185, 6-214

Bowling: Baker 21-7-62-1 (3nb); Richardson 19-8-32-1 (1w); Sammy 17-7-36-1; Deonarine 1-0-2-0; Benn 25-5-53-2; Simmons 8-2-22-1.