An unbeaten 97-run stand between Brett D’Oliveira and Matthew Waite ensured Worcestershire secured a valuable draw on the final day of Rothesay County Championship action against Lancashire at Southport.
Coming together with their side teetering at 114-5, ahead by 103 in the match, the pair batted with composure and control to see the match through until 4:50pm when the players shook hands with a draw the only possible outcome.
Having found themselves 90-4 at one stage on the final day, the experienced duo ensured the Pears left with 11 points from the match, with rain plaguing any chances of a definitive result at the end of the contest.
Worcestershire’s attentions now turn to Vitality Blast T20 action, where the group stage competition begins this Friday, away to Leicestershire Foxes.
With the rain having plagued the opening three days of Worcestershire’s tussle with Lancashire at Southport, the weather once again threatened to disrupt proceedings early on the final morning, with a delayed start meaning play did not commence until 11:30am.
Having elected to declare during the break in play, Worcestershire openers Dan Lategan and Jake Libby made their way to the middle looking to bed in, with their side trailing by 11 runs.
The duo made a spritely start, rotating the strike and running hard between the wickets, whilst Lategan soon found his rhythm through the off side.
The home side saw two early chances go begging, however, when Lategan edged a James Anderson ball between the keeper and first slip, and when a heart-in-mouth moment saw Libby set off for a quick single in the fourth over, but given a reprieve as Balderson fumbled the ball from the ensuing throw with the Pears opener well short of his ground.
Settling into their stride, the partnership moved towards fifty in quick time, as the Pears made hay in the sunshine, but the 47-run stand was abruptly ended by the evergreen Anderson, who got one to nip back at Libby and pin him in front for 21.
The leading wicket taker in Division Two returned in his next over to remove Gareth Roderick without scoring, as Kashif Ali entered the fray looking to settle some Worcestershire nerves.
Lategan showed his usual maturity, respecting the good ball and latching onto the loose one as he made it to lunch unbeaten on 31, with Worcestershire 77-2.
In front by 66, play resumed as scheduled, with Lategan and Ali starting over in controlled fashion despite an overriding sense that the final day of a promising encounter was destined for one, inevitable outcome.
There was no time to take stock, however, for Alan Richardson’s side shortly after the clock ticked past 2pm, as two wickets in three balls saw the visitors stumble at 90-4.
Kashif made 16, batting resolutely for 58 balls before he clipped one off his pads straight to Harry Singh at midwicket, before Adam Hose was beaten by a Tom Hartley ball that clattered into his stumps as he departed without scoring.
With the game in the balance and the visitors only in front by 79, the draw remained the most likely outcome, but some control was needed.
Lategan, now partnered by Brett D’Oliveira, made his way towards a second fifty of the match, but with the score a mere 114-5, the peril momentarily returned as Lategan edged behind to Hurst off a Coughlin ball that kissed his bat on 48.
First innings saviour Matthew Waite joined D’Oliveira, knowing that one more resolute stand would be enough to secure a draw and some valuable points for the Pears on the road.
With the match petering out, the pair reached tea in relative comfort, adding 45 runs for the fifth wicket, with both sides heading off the field wondering where the match may have been had the weather not played such a significant role in the match’s outcome.
Returning from the interval, Worcestershire’s experienced duo shut up shop, defending anything bearing any resemblance to a threatening delivery, whilst enjoying taking on any scoring options as their partnership passed fifty and the Worcestershire score went beyond 200.
At 4:50pm, the inevitable decision was made, with D’Oliveira not out on 46 and Waite unbeaten on 47, the pair had successfully guided their team to secure a draw after a topsy-turvy four-day encounter at Southport.
