Thomas says points deduction is fuelling Leicestershire's survival fight

Leicestershire head coach Alfonso Thomas says a 27-point deduction has hardened his players for their fight to stay in Division One of the County Championship.

Thomas told BBC Radio Leicester the punishment is fuelling their push for survival, after a week that swung from a courtroom blow to a famous win, BBC Sport reported.

The points were docked for a breach of pitch regulations in August's victory over Glamorgan. The Cricket Regulator had sent the club a formal charge letter on 1 September, according to the ECB disciplinary document. The sanction was applied after close of play at Grace Road and dropped the Foxes to the bottom of the table.

It is a heavy hit. A win in the County Championship, county cricket's four-day league, is worth 16 points. A 27-point loss wipes out that Glamorgan win and more.

Thomas chose to tell his players early. He broke the news at lunch on the second day of the Division One match against Hampshire. They knew the table was about to turn against them. They still had to win.

They answered with the bat. Leicestershire chased down their target to beat Hampshire by five wickets, which means they completed the chase with five batters still to spare. The result sent Hampshire down and kept Leicestershire alive going into the final round.

Now the maths is stark. Leicestershire sit 19 points from safety. They must beat leaders Warwickshire in the last Championship match and hope other results fall their way to stay in the top flight. Hampshire's relegation is confirmed. One more place is still to be decided.

There is no pause for breath. Leicestershire face Middlesex at Trent Bridge on Sunday in the One-Day Cup final, the 50-over knockout competition. It is a strange and gripping double act. A cup final first. Then a scrap for survival.

For supporters, this means every ball matters. A side punished off the field is fighting back on it. Thomas and his players want to finish the job twice over.