WORCESTERSHIRE continued to stubbornly defy the tiring Aussie attack as New Road basked in the July sunshine.

The home side progressed to 207-4 by tea, 250 runs away from their notional victory target.

Alexei Kervezee’s rotten run of form continued when he was bowled off an inside edge by Ryan Harris for just two, but the hosts dug in to make it to the tea break with no further loss.

Captain Daryl Mitchell reached his second-half century of the match and he was helped in a partnership of 61 by youngster Tom Fell (24 not out).

Mitchell took 133 balls over his fifty as the skipper helped lead his side to what looks likely to be a draw, which would be quite an achievement for a county side against the Australians.