Kohler-Cadmore impresses to secure valuable points

Essex 451 for 9 dec (Cook 142, Westley 125, Foster 51*, Leach 5-115) and 95 for 2 (Cook 48*) drew with Worcestershire 411 for 8 dec (D'Oliveira 128, Kohler-Cadmore 119*, Mitchell 66, Napier 4-127)
Scorecard

Worcestershire batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore gave another demonstration of his potential with a superb unbeaten century in the drawn Specsavers County Championship clash with Division Two leaders Essex at New Road.

Kohler-Cadmore completed his second century in the competition off 151 balls to help Worcestershire secure maximum batting points. He received staunch support from the lower order in ensuring a potentially tricky overnight situation never materialised.

Worcestershire began the day on 226 for 5 - still needing 76 to avoid the follow on target of 302 and a second new ball due after eight overs play. But Kohler-Cadmore featured in three half-century partnerships with Ben Cox, Joe Leach and Matt Henry before skipper Daryl Mitchell declared on 411 for 8 - 40 adrift on first innings - early in the afternoon session.

Essex then reached 95 for 2 by the early close with England Test captain Alastair Cook scoring an unbeaten 48 in his final Championship innings before the series against Sri Lanka to follow his first innings ton.

Kohler-Cadmore, whose maiden Championship hundred was scored against Middlesex in the final game of last season, was unbeaten on 119 from 170 balls with two sixes and 17 fours.

A draw was always favourite to be the likely outcome after the loss of 102 overs play on the opening two days to the weather. But Worcestershire still had work to do after the loss of five wickets for 43 runs during yesterday evening's session.

Cox had one slice of luck when he edged David Masters first delivery of the day to the boundary. But in general the Worcestershire keeper and Kohler-Cadmore were untroubled in adding 61 before the former on 24 drove Graham Napier straight to point.

Kohler-Cadmore reeled off a series of impressive drives and found another willing ally in vice-captain Leach. Then in the final over before lunch he showed his hitting power with successive sixes over long-off against spinner Tom Westley.

Leach was another willing ally in adding 70 in 14 overs before he edged the first ball after the interval from Jamie Porter to Alastair Cook at first slip.

Kohler-Cadmore went to his hundred with a thick edge for four at Porter's expense before he and the promoted Henry upped the run-rate to clinch their final batting point in the 109th over. Henry raced to 34 off 25 balls and his dismissal off Masters prompted the declaration.

Essex opener Nick Browne fell cheaply for the second time in the game and then Moeen Ali enjoyed an elongated bowl in which he dismissed first innings century-maker Westley before the two teams shook hands.