Worcestershire completed the opening half of their Specsavers County Championship programme with a hard fought and deserved draw against leaders Glamorgan at Cardiff.
The home side’s push for victory was comfortably thwarted on the final day after they had set a target of 320 in 66 overs by experienced campaigners Daryl Mitchell and Callum Ferguson.
They shared an unbroken stand of 135 in 47 overs for the second wicket as Worcestershire closed on 143-1.
Mitchell was unbeaten on 64 (146 balls, six fours) and Ferguson 70 (151 balls, 10 fours) – his highest Championship score for the County.
Their efforts completed an all-round satisfactory day for Worcestershire who showed great resilience after being under threat at one stage of having to follow on to scrap it out for a share of the spoils.
Today Glamorgan were made to work hard for their runs in the morning, adding 109 for the loss of four wickets – two of them to Brett D’Oliveira who ended with nine in the game alongside his century.
Then Mitchell and Ferguson firmly shut the door on Glamorgan’s hopes
The County’s third draw in a row keeps them in the pack of teams looking to finish in the top three.
The draw also prevented leaders Glamorgan – over whom Worcestershire have two matches in hand – establishing a bigger gap at the top.
Worcestershire picked up 10 points from the match via two for bowling, three for batting and five for sharing the spoils.
Glamorgan resumed on 137-2 – a lead of 216 – and Marnus Labuschagne brought up his century with a single off Joe Leach.
It came off 112 balls and contained 14 fours – but he did not add to his tally.
In the next over Labuschagne swept at Brett D’Oliveira and only picked out Ed Barnard at deep mid wicket with the total 157-2.
Nick Selman completed a more sedate half century off 142 deliveries with five boundaries.
On 58 he aimed a big hit against D’Oliveira over mid-wicket and was bowled.
Charlie Morris came into the attack and David Lloyd (12) also perished trying to move the score along as he went for an expansive drive and edged through to keeper Ben Cox.
Billy Root and Dan Douthwaite (40) added 58 in 14 overs until Ed Barnard broke the stand by trapping the latter lbw just before lunch.
Glamorgan ended the session on 246-5 from 66 overs after adding 109 for the loss of four wickets during the morning and at that point they declared.
When Worcestershire launched their reply, Josh Dell (1) was lbw to Lukas Carey (1) in the fourth over with eight runs on the board.
But Mitchell and Ferguson ensured there were no more breakthroughs with the new ball and they gradually prospered.
Ferguson on drove Michael Hogan for four and Mitchell cover drove the same bowler to the ropes.
Labuschagne was guilty of some loose deliveries which were punished by Ferguson.
He helped a wide ball around the corner to the boundary and drilled two full tosses from the spinner through mid-wicket for four.
Ferguson completed his half century with a single off Graham Wagg and it came from 75 balls with nine boundaries.
The Mitchell-Ferguson 100 partnership was completed in 29.3 overs and by tea the pair had moved onto 43 and 55 respectively out of 107-1 from 32 overs.
Mitchell brought up his fifty off 99 balls with five fours before the two teams shook hands at 5pm.
