WORCESTERSHIRE had to settle for no more than a morning's batting practice on the final day of their three-day friendly with Oxford UCCE in The Parks.

A mere 33 overs were possible before rain arrived at lunchtime yesterday and caused an abandonment by mid-afternoon.

But there was still time for in-form skipper Ben Smith to continue his blistering start to the season with another half-century.

Resuming with his team on 256-3, Smith matched the previous day's half-centurions, Anurag Singh and Stephen Peters, before falling for 63.

England Academy man Gareth Batty hit four fours in 20 not out, while Kadeer Ali was out just before lunch for a painstaking 27 off 106 balls.