ED Barnard completed his second LV=Insurance County Championship century of the season as Worcestershire ended their Group 1 programme with a high-scoring draw against local rivals Warwickshire at New Road.

Barnard went to three figures off 200 balls with eight fours in a superb effort after being promoted to number six for this game.

He was ably supported by Adam Finch in a ninth-wicket stand of 101 and together, earned Worcestershire a first-innings lead of 52 as they declared on 447-9 on the final day.

Finch then dismissed England opener Dominic Sibley, but half-centuries from Rob Yates and Pieter Malan helped the Bears to 215-2 by the close.

The Pears took 12 points from the derby clash but they will have to contend with a place in Division Three after drawing their opening five games and winning only one this season.

The day resumed with the home side on 415-8, with Barnard needing two more runs to complete his century.

It duly arrived with a single off Liam Norwell to deep mid-wicket and was greeted warmly by the crowd and his teammates.

Finch continued to give Barnard good support, and the 100 partnership for the ninth wicket was completed off 232 balls before the stand was finally broken when Finch (31) was caught behind off Norwell.

The declaration came with the score at 447/9 and Warwickshire came into bat knowing a draw was all but confirmed.

Barnard cover drove Norwell for four before the declaration, with debutant Josh Baker unbeaten on 12.

They started well and reached 76 before the first wicket fell when Sibley (41) edged a Finch delivery to keeper Ben Cox.

Yates completed a 115-ball half-century with two boundaries, and first-innings century-maker, Pieter Malan, brought up a fifty from 73 deliveries.

Baker collected a late scalp when Yates (88) went for a slog sweep and was caught by Cox running around to mid-wicket to leave Malan unbeaten on 77 when the two sides finally shook hands.

The result meant Warwickshire clinched a place in Division One of the LV=Insurance County Championship and the chance to fight for the outright title.

Worcestershire century-maker Ed Barnard, who had resumed this morning on 98, said: “I think I would have slept less last night if I hadn’t got that hundred (at Essex) in the first game.

“There were still a few nerves jangling around overnight. I was getting close last night and maybe in previous times might have tried to rush to get there.

“Batting at number six is something I want to do. It’s where I want to be batting so to really take that opportunity this week, I was really pleased with.

“To not only get some runs, but get a big one and make sure I was there at the end, kind of helped me to settle a bit and stamp my authority on that spot.”