County Championship: Worcestershire draw with Lancashire

After conceding just once the night before without scoring, the Pears got off to a stuttering start on the final morning of the season.

Phillip struck twice in his first two overs as he had Jake Libby caught and bowled, leaving Kashif Ali caught behind.

Gareth Roderick was then taken out by a direct hit from Will Williams at cover, before Bailey struck twice in the same over, trapping old Lancashire boy Rob Jones and then bowling home captain Brett D’Oliveira’s third ball for five .

Ethan Brookes then departed lbw to Williams to trigger a somewhat early lunch at 78-6.

But any hopes Lancashire had of salvaging some lost pride with an afternoon victory were soon dashed as the Pears, leading by just 81 at the start of the second session, battened down the hatches.

After lunching on 23, Adam Hose moved his score to 41, while Matthew Waite added to an already impressive match with 37.

Logan van Beek, who had made 48 in the opening innings, added another 44, largely in the company of Leach, who made a grand but tearful entrance in Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’.

It is the song so often sung by supporters as the popular Leach has taken many of his 469 wickets during the 137 first-class matches he has played for the Pears. But time and injuries finally took their toll and he retired at the age of 33.