NED Eckersley was once again Worcestershire’s tormentor, hitting a defiant century as the LV= County Championship Division Two match with Leicestershire at New Road meandered along towards a likely draw.

Last season, the 23-year-old right-hander blasted an astonishing 44-ball unbeaten 72 to help Leicestershire plunder 92 from the last 10 overs of a Clydesdale Bank 40 game to snatch victory from underneath Worcestershire’s nose.

Although there were fewer fireworks this time, Eckersley (108 not out) and West Indies overseas recruit Ramnaresh Sarwan (46no) blunted everything the Worcestershire attack could throw at them.

Earlier in the day, Shaaiq Choudhry hit Ollie Freckingham for three successive fours to bring up the hosts’ 300 and secure a third batting point.

Shortly afterwards, Thilan Samaraweera flicked Robbie Williams off his legs to the fence to bring up his maiden Worcestershire hundred – the 42nd time in his stellar career that he had reached three figures – and captain Daryl Mitchell declared with his side on 320-7 off 109.3 overs.

With so much of the game having been lost to rain, Mitchell hoped to rattle through the Leicestershire batting line-up in the hope of forcing a result. Director of cricket Steve Rhodes opted to play two spinners in Moeen Ali and Choudhry and the former was into the attack after only nine overs.

However, it was slow left-armer Choudhry who struck first when Michael Thornley played on for 17.

Skipper Niall O’Brien worked hard for his 123-ball 46, before Moeen turned one past his outside edge and into the timbers, but that was the hosts’ last success as Leicestershire ended the day on 229-2, trailing by 91 runs.

Worcestershire will be hoping to maintain the sparkling form that saw them begin their Yorkshire Bank 40 campaign with a 91-run triumph over Sussex at Hove when they entertain table-topping Nottinghamshire on Sunday (1.45pm).

Mitchell hit a century in his new one-day role at the top of the order against Sussex and Worcestershire will need to be on top form against a star-studded Notts side who have won both of their opening two Group ‘A’ contests.