An explosive 72 not out from Graham Napier helped Essex salvage a draw in their rain-affected match in Leicester.

Resuming on 39-3, chasing the hosts' first-innings 335, Charl Langeveldt and Mike Walker took seven wickets between them to help reduce Essex to 104-8.

But Napier struck seven sixes and five fours, and found support from the lower order, to help the visitors to 201.

Tom New (41 not out) and former Eagle Darren Robinson took Leicestershire to 56-0 before the draw was called early.

But the story of the day was Napier's knock, which lifted Essex out of deep trouble after lunch.

When Essex went in for lunch at 140-9, they still needed another 46 runs to avoid the follow-on with 67 overs remaining.

But Napier, playing his first Championship game of the season following an elbow injury, shared a last-wicket stand of 61 with Andrew McGarry to deny the home side the chance of victory at Grace Road.