WORCESTERSHIRE CCC survived a follow-on to draw with Derbyshire in the club’s opening game of the County Championship season.
The Pears had just three wickets in hand at the close of play on day four at the County Ground.
Derbyshire declared on 625-8 as Martin Anderson (228) and Luis Reece (114) starred with the bat for the home side while three other players scored half-centuries.
Worcestershire could only manage 312 all out in reply despite an impressive knock from opener Dan Lategan (89).
Derbyshire enforced the follow-on with the Pears still trailing by 313 runs.
And the Pears slipped to 272-7 in reply despite a half-century from Adam Hose (52) with 11 overs still to play.
However, Matthew Waite (66 not out) and Tom Taylor (23 not out) dug in with the bat as the game ended in a draw as the Pears closed on 314-7.
The Pears took 11 points from the fixture to sit one place above bottom side Gloucestershire in Division Two.
Pears head coach, Alan Richardson said: “It was an amazing effort again, and the character the boys showed was excellent.
“We probably haven’t deserved a draw over the four days but the character and the spirit we’ve shown gave us the chance to get a draw.
“I think the wicket was a really good cricket wicket but a score of 600 really puts us on the back foot, so it was a real challenge for us.
“I thought Derbyshire played really well and built pressure on us and were able to attack us when they wanted to, but we stood up to that when we needed to.”
Worcestershire are next in action against Middlesex with play to start at 11am on Friday, April 10 at New Road.
