Photo via BBC Sport

Rain spares Durham from defeat by Worcestershire

Inclement weather halted Worcestershire's push for victory on the final day of their Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash at Chester-le-Street. 3 overs before conditions forced an abandonment at 15:40 BST, concluding the fixture in a draw that yielded 15 points for Durham and 14 for Worcestershire.

While the stoppage prevented Worcestershire from becoming the first squad this season to defeat the table-toppers, it snapped Durham's six-match winning streak and marked the first time since May that an opponent avoided defeat against the Division Two champions, who received their trophy following play for the second time in three years.

Earlier in the contest, Durham posted 465 in their opening innings thanks to Agarwal's 177, 97 from Robinson, and 50 by Stokes, while Waite, Taylor, and Gibbon claimed three wickets apiece. Worcestershire answered with 448 behind Hose's 105, 82 from D'Oliveira, 61 by Taylor, and Libby's 55, despite Stokes taking 6 for 94.

The hosts were subsequently bowled out for 235 in their second turn, led by McKinney's 38 as Allison took 3 for 60 alongside two scalps each from Waite and Taylor. Durham finish their campaign next week against Lancashire in Manchester, while Worcestershire conclude their schedule hosting Derbyshire at New Road.