Rain Halts Worcestershire

The second County Championship Midlands derby of the season ended in a rain-affected draw at Worcester, with former Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes scoring a century before the weather took centre stage.

Much like the earlier season encounter in April, the match between Worcestershire and Warwickshire was disrupted by rain, preventing either side from securing a decisive result. Despite the weather, both teams are now in a strong position to avoid relegation, especially after losses by Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.

Although Worcestershire couldn’t continue their streak of three consecutive Championship victories, they remain 40 points clear of danger with only two matches remaining and a maximum of 48 points still on the table. Warwickshire, just four points behind Worcestershire, also sit comfortably, 36 points ahead of second-bottom Lancashire.

Warwickshire resumed on the final morning at 171-3, trailing by eight runs. However, any hopes Worcestershire had of replicating their day-three success—when they bowled out Warwickshire for 128 and enforced the follow-on—faded as Rhodes went on to score his third century of the season. Remarkably, all three of his tons have come in just four matches, playing against the Kookaburra ball. Rhodes is now just 46 runs away from reaching 1,000 first-class runs in a season for the first time.

Rhodes found support from teenager Hamza Sheikh, who contributed 33 not out, adding to his career-best 91 for England Lions against Sri Lanka last month. The pair extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 83 runs. Rhodes, who previously hit a career-best 207 at Worcester during the Bob Willis Trophy four years ago, helped guide Warwickshire into the lead with an on-drive to the boundary off Matthew Waite. He reached his century with a cover drive off Logan van Beek.

Although Warwickshire survived a tricky session with the second new ball, the only real scare came when Tom Taylor found Rhodes’ edge, only for the ball to fall just short of second slip. Soon after, a heavy downpour after lunch forced the match to be abandoned.

Both teams will now turn their attention to their next fixtures. Warwickshire will face Essex at home on Tuesday, while Worcestershire heads to Hampshire.

Worcestershire’s head coach, Alan Richardson, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance to BBC Hereford & Worcester. He highlighted how well they responded to losing the toss and being asked to bat on a tough September morning, forming solid partnerships. Richardson praised Brett D'Oliveira for his excellent form and commended Matthew Waite for his impactful return to the team.

He also singled out Tom Taylor’s bowling spell, noting that Taylor had performed superbly against Kent and deserved his success. Describing the fast-bowler’s 45-minute spell as "crazy," Richardson said it was well-earned and an inspiring moment for the team.