Rain denied Sussex their first win of the LV= Insurance County Championship season when Leicestershire posted 333 for nine in their second innings for a lead of 93 when stumps were drawn an hour early on day four at Grace Road, Leicester.

Delray Rawlins boosted his reputation as a bowler for Sussex as he claimed three for 74 from 34 overs, the most overs bowled by any of the seven used by Sussex.

Another slow bowler, Archie Lenham, led Sussex with four for 84 from 29 overs of leg spin. The 17-year-old claimed three of those wickets in quick succession late on Saturday as Sussex finished the day with victory in sight.

Lenham took three wickets for eight runs in just three overs after Leicestershire had a promising start to their second innings at 94 for one needing 240 to make Sussex bat again.

Lenham was given the ball just before tea on the third day and he struck with his third ball, trapping Hassan Azad lbw on the back foot. Two overs later the teenager bowled captain Colin Ackermann with a ball that clipped the top of the off stump.

With the next ball, Lenham got another lbw decision, this time to remove Lewis Hill. Lenham also removed top scorer Rishi Patel for 68 today.

Rawlins, who accounted for a well-set Wiaan Mulder late on Saturday — lbw for 36 playing no shot to an arm ball — returned on Sunday to remove Harry Swindells (57) and Callum Parkinson (45), as the Leicestershire tail wagged.

The match ended soon after Rawlins bowled Parkinson, the match lasting only five more overs before the teams went off because of rain, Sussex more disappointed than their opponents as a first victory in 17 championship matches was denied them.

Afternoon showers, which saw 27 overs lost on the final day, slowed Sussex’s progress, along with an eighth-wicket stand of 111 between Swindells and Parkinson that exhausted 46 overs.