| LV= County Championship Division Two, New Highway, Worcester (day 4) |
| Worcestershire 313: D’Oliveira 63, Libby 57, Roderick 52; Raine 3-66, de Leede 3-68 |
| Durham 371-4 (71 overs): Borthwick 134*, Robinson 84, Lees 60; Allison 2-61 |
| Worcestershire (8 pts) drew with Durham (11 pts) |
| Match scorecard |
Worcestershire are nonetheless to safe a return to the highest flight after drawing their rain-affected County Championship match with already promoted Division Two champions Durham.
Following the lack of a lot play on this recreation, the Pears may solely decide up one final-day bowling level as Durham, 10-0 in a single day, batted out time, led by an unbeaten century from skipper Scott Borthwick, to succeed in 371-4 from 71 overs.
That leaves the Pears nonetheless needing two factors to safe a report seventh Championship promotion – and a return to the highest flight for the primary time since 2018.
They’re 22 factors away from Leicestershire, who drew with Yorkshire.
Worcestershire’s remaining recreation is in opposition to Yorkshire, beginning at Headingley on Tuesday, when Durham host Leicestershire.
However the subsequent deciding issue if groups end stage on factors is ‘most wins’. And the truth that Worcestershire (5) are already assured to have received extra video games than Leicestershire (3), regardless of the final result of subsequent week’s matches, signifies that simply two extra factors will suffice.
A day after securing the second division title, Durham captain Borthwick confirmed his penchant for Pears as he repeated his century in opposition to Worcestershire in his aspect’s opening win of the season at Chester-le-Road again in April.
He hit 134 not out, sharing a 159-run stand with Ollie Robinson, who weighed in with 84, whereas prolific opener Alex Lees went previous 50 for the tenth time within the Championship this season.
England opener Lees made 60 – his lowest first-innings rating because the Championship resumed on 11 June after its first early-season break.
However his run of scores in Durham’s final seven matches has nonetheless been wonderful: 62, 101, 145, 195, 22, 171, 65*, 103, 26* and 60.
Lees, the nation’s main run maker with 1,341, and his fellow Durham batters, should have an element to play within the promotion race, nevertheless, as they now face the third-placed Foxes.
Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson:
“It was irritating to overlook a lot of the sport by way of rain, however in the end we put in a reasonably good efficiency.
“While it did not go as would have preferred, we had some very nice partnerships. Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby up the highest. To attain over 300 and get these two factors was actually pleasing for us.
“We go to Headingley with out the intent to attempt to win the sport at the beginning, however to choose up as many bonus factors as we will.
“If we do this, and focus on doing that, the sport will take care of itself.”
Durham head coach Ryan Campbell:
“You attempt to skip all of the stress elements of the final recreation, so we will depart that to Worcestershire and Leicestershire to cope with all that.
“The squad has been actually spectacular. We have had some stand-out performers, which you do want in a Championship yr however as a bunch they’ve all grown magnificently and subsequent yr ought to be a very good problem for them.
“What we got down to do was to turn out to be the most effective groups within the nation and to try this you have to get into Division One to start with, after which you have to present to the remainder of the nation that you’re ok to be there, and never simply survive.
“We’re going there to attempt to win the title. We’re actually excited with our signings in Colin Ackermann and Matt Parkinson and that is going so as to add depth to our squad.”