Weather holds Worcs at bay

Gareth Batty claimed four wickets before the rain

Worcestershire were denied a winning start in the LV County Championship when a stubborn partnership by Tony Frost and Ant Botha allowed Warwickshire to grab a lifeline from the weather at Edgbaston.

Hanging on at 164 for seven and still 317 behind with 34 overs to be bowled, they escaped with a draw when light rain prevented any play after tea.

The meeting of last year’s relegated clubs became a one-sided contest until Frost’s defiance in his comeback appearance after retiring last season to take a up a position on the Edgbaston groundstaff.

Re-signed this season to cover for Tim Ambrose’s expected involvement with England, the 32-year-old wicketkeeper proved to be the man for the job in batting through 34 overs for an undefeated 46 from 110 balls.

Botha, making 18 out of 55, stayed with Frost for an hour-and-a-half as Worcestershire slowly lost momentum after a major push from Gareth Batty who took 4-34.

But a draw could not hide some of the problems facing Warwickshire.

Tony Frost batted through 34 crucial overs © Getty Images

Their new director of cricket of cricket, Ashley Giles, was given an early insight into the performance levels which ended with relegation last season.

Worcestershire drove this match from the second day and with any luck they would have sealed a Championship victory at Edgbaston for the first time since 1993.

After losing two pre-season games with Warwickshire by some distance, they surprised their neighbours by laying out their credentials for a promotion challenge.

Though without Simon Jones for the third day in a row because of a stiff neck, they were able to rotate three others seamers in support of Batty.

Locking up the pavilion end for nearly three hours, the off-spinner bowled 24 consecutive overs and doubled his wicket tally after taking two with his first 13 balls on the third evening.

An early breakthrough eluded Worcestershire as Lee Daggett survived for almost an hour but the nightwatchman was eventually bowled by the persistent Batty after making 17 in a stay that spanned 18 overs.

Steve Magoffin quickly shifted Navdeep Poonia with Daryl Mitchell’s assistance at third slip and Batty broke Michael Powell’s resolve for 31 with Graeme Hick holding a straightforward chance at slip for his sixth catch of the match.

Warwickshire slipped to 109 for seven when a leading edge to gully removed Luke Parker for 20, off the bowling of Kabir Ali, but that was as far as Worcestershire got before the rain.