Ed Barnard and Gareth Roderick hit half centuries for Worcestershire on the final day of the drawn three-day encounter with Oxford UCCE in The Parks.
After dismissing Oxford for 241 yesterday evening, Worcestershire Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira re-jigged the batting order in Worcestershire’s second innings with Barnard and Jacques Banton opening.
After Banton’s early dismissal, bowled by Hugo Whitlock for nought, Barnard and Roderick joined forces for a stand of 149 in 36 overs.
Barnard was the dominant scorer in the initial part of the stand, scoring 33 of the first 50 runs, but then Roderick opened his shoulders.
He came down the wicket and struck spinner Conner Haddow for six over long off and in his next over again cleared the ropes at wide long on.
Barnard, looking to build on last season’s excellent form batting in the top six, swept Haddow fine for two to complete an 83 ball half century.
Roderick brought up his half century from 79 deliveries with a quick single to mid on off Jacob Gordon.
The 100 partnership came up from 155 balls and Barnard advanced onto 79 before he was bowled by Whitlock via an inside edge.
His 137 ball innings contained eight boundaries.
Roderick remained unbeaten on 73 from 114 deliveries with two sixes and three fours when the declaration came at 167-2 from 46 overs.
Oxford, left to chase a 298 target, soon lost their first wicket when Jamie Harrison (7) went lbw to a ball of full length from Ben Gibbon in his third over.
Imran Malik (5) was bowled by D’Oliveira after aiming to play a straight drive and there was time for Banton to hold onto a return catch from Christopher McBride (9) before the two teams shook hands.
Oxford closed on 61-3 from 25 overs with Gibbon returning 1-15, D’Oliveira 1-2 and Banton 1-10.
The game proved to be an invaluable exercise on a good batting wicket with Taylor Cornall, Roderick, century-maker Jack Haynes, D’Oliveira and Barnard all making sizeable contributions.
There were also plenty of encouraging signs on the bowling front with the fast bowlers able to get a good chunk of overs under their belt during a full day of bowling on day two.
Academy product Ben Parker showed his potential in the first innings, newcomer Ben Gibbon settled into a good line and length, and the wickets were shared amongst those two, Barnard, Charlie Morris, Banton and D’Oliveira.
