Worcestershire Seconds were thwarted by the weather despite a superb new ball spell by Ed Barnard as their four-day match with Warwickshire Seconds at Barnt Green was abandoned as a draw.
Barnard returned the remarkable figures of 8-6-3-3 to follow on from his century yesterday as Warwickshire were reduced to 39-5 in pursuit of a 345 target after both sides forfeited an innings.
But an unbroken stand of 66 between Jonothan Webb and Alex Mellor saw the Bears through to lunch without any further setbacks at 105-5 and then rain ended any hopes of a resumption.
It was a frustrating four days with the opening two washed out but Barnard will be able to look back on the match with satisfaction and he has been included in the senior squad for the LV = County Championship match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston beginning tomorrow (Saturday).
Worcestershire declared at their overnight 344-8 and, after the two forfeits, quickly made inroads into the Warwickshire innings.
Barnard quickly fitted into an excellent line and length, trapping Ateeq Javid lbw, bowling Freddie Coleman and having Tom Milnes caught behind by Joe Clarke.
Chris Russell chipped in with two wickets as Andy Umeed was caught by George Rhodes at second slip and then Tom Lewis fell to a superb leaping one handed catch by skipper Shaaiq Choudhry at mid on.
But then Webb and Mellor stopped the rot before the umpires bowed to the inevitable and called the match off in mid afternoon after an early tea.
Warwickshire – second innings
Umeed c Rhodes b Russell 9
Javid lbw Barnard 8
Coleman b Barnard 1
Lewis c Choudhry b Russell 0
Webb not out 37
Milnes c Clarke b Barnard 11
Mellor not out 29
Extras 10
Total (for 5 wickets) 105
FOW: 14, 21, 22, 22, 39.
Bowling
Russell 6-1-31-2
Barnard 8-6-3-3
Whiles 6-0-32-0
Hill 5-1-23-0
Choudhry 2-0-5-0
Rhodes 1-0-5-0
