ZAIN Ul-Hassan and trialist Tristan Blackledge produced a superb rearguard action to earn Worcestershire a draw from their Second XI Championship match with Lancashire at Barnt Green.

Skipper Ollie Westbury had scored a century for the second Championship match running after the home side were set a target of 326 by the visitors.

After reaching 163-3, the loss of six wickets for 36 runs looked to have handed victory to Lancashire.

But Ul-Hassan and Blackledge joined forces after 66.2 overs and survived for 22.4 overs, defying all that Lancashire could throw at them.

Their efforts earned Worcestershire an additional five points to go with seven bonus points – four for bowling and three for batting.

Ul-Hassan ended on 34 not out from 79 balls and last man Blackledge held out for 62 deliveries for his seven not out.

Worcestershire closed on 246-9 from 89 overs.

Lancashire had resumed on 340-2 in their second innings and added 46 in five overs for the loss of two wickets – both of them falling to another triallist in Tom Sturgess – before declaring at 386-5.

Century-maker Rob Jones (106) was caught at mid-on and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (10) holed out to deep square leg.

Worcestershire lost two early wickets in reply with Jack Haynes (4) chipping the ball to silly mid on and Joe Barrett leg before.

Westbury and first innings century-maker Josh Dell (39) added 88 in 24 overs before the latter was caught and bowled.

Keeper Alex Milton (19) featured in a partnership of 52 with Westbury before he was caught behind and then wickets fell at regular intervals.

Westbury was seventh out at 191, his 104 from 190 balls containing 14 boundaries. But then came the Ul-Hassan-Blackledge rescue act