County Championship: Worcestershire draw with Lancashire

After facing just one over the night before without scoring, the Pears suffered 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, then Kashif Ali caught behind.

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

Ethan Brookes then departed, lbw to Williams, to then trigger a slightly early lunch on 78-6.

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

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

Logan van Beek, who had made 48 in the first innings, added a further 44, mostly in the company of Leach, who made a grand but tearful entry to Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’.

It is the song sung by supporters so many times whenever 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, have finally taken their toll and he retires at the age of 33.