Worcestershire’s hopes of forcing a win against Lancashire were washed away as a downpour brought an entertaining Rothesay County Championship match at New Road to a draw.
Worcestershire used the final day to attack, hoping to set Lancashire a difficult run chase before the weather intervened.
The Pears began Sunday at 12-1, with Jake Libby and Rehaan Edavalath at the crease. Edavalath produced some excellent stroke play against Lancashire’s seam bowlers, confidently driving the ball down the ground. He also helped Libby settle after the Worcestershire batter was dropped at first slip by Marcus Harris.
Their second-wicket partnership added 75 before Edavalath was bowled for an encouraging 42 by George Balderson, who struck again two balls later. Adam Hose lost his off stump, leaving Worcestershire 90-3 at lunch.
Libby then reached his third County Championship half-century of the summer, taking 109 deliveries to get there. He made 56 before edging Tom Bailey behind, but his innings gave Worcestershire a solid platform.
Beyers Swanepoel then changed the tempo. Joined by captain Brett D’Oliveira, he helped Worcestershire add 59 runs in just eight overs as the hosts tried to make up for lost time.
D’Oliveira struck five boundaries in a brisk 45 from 44 balls, but Balderson ended his innings with a sharp catch off his own bowling.
After another weather interruption, Swanepoel continued attacking despite the loss of Henry Cullen for 15 and Matthew Waite for nine.
His swashbuckling 63 from 55 balls propelled the hosts past 250 as their efforts to set a game up concluded with a declaration on 263-7, with the South African all-rounder finishing with six fours and three sixes.
That left them 83 runs ahead with 32 overs still available. However, Lancashire faced only two overs and reached 2-0 before heavy rain stopped play. The teams shook hands on a draw at 5pm.
The result sees the Pears add 12 points to their current tally, keeping Alan Richardson’s side in touch with Kent and Northants above them in the table.
But they will need to come away victorious from the upcoming trip to Canterbury this week in order to keep realistic promotion hopes alive.
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