Bad light and persistent rain brought an early end to the Rothesay County Championship match at the Banks Homes Riverside with Worcestershire on 32 for 1 in their quest to score 253 to beat Durham.

Only nine balls were bowled after lunch but the draw was not agreed until 3.40pm. After the match, Durham’s players were presented with the Division Two trophy.

The result means that Worcestershire become the first side since May to avoid losing to Durham in Championship cricket while the Division Two champions’ run of successive victories ends at six

Resuming on 161 for 6 and with a lead of 178, Durham lost their last four wickets for 74 runs in 16.1 eventful overs. Ollie Robinson was leg-before to Ben Allison’s eighth ball of the morning for 22 and Ben Raine fell for just 4 to the same bowler in his next over when he drove straight to Adam Hose at cover.

Durham’s lead was only 204 when Kasey Aldridge was bowled for 34 by a ball that kept low from Tom Taylor but Matthew Potts and Callum Parkinson put on 48 for the last wicket before Potts was bowled for 35 by Fateh Singh’s first ball of the morning.

Worcestershire’s quest to become the first team to defeat Durham in red-ball cricket this season got off to a poor start when Jake Libby was bowled by a shooter from Ben Raine for 10 in the sixth over.

However, drizzle and bad light stopped play nine balls into the afternoon session. Tea was taken at 2.40pm and there was an inspection at 3.40pm, after which the draw was agreed. Worcestershire take 15 points from the game to Durham’s 14.

Durham end their season away at Lancashire next season whereas Worcestershire play Derbyshire at New Road.