Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell lit up the final day of the LV= County Championship clash against Hampshire with a superb century before the teams settled for an expected draw at the Ageas Bowl.
Mitchell notched the first ton of the new Division Two season as he scored a magnificent 172 not out at the top of the order, helping his side pick up four batting bonus points before declaring on 350 for seven.
That gave the visitors a first-innings lead of 87 over Hampshire, but with less than a session to go in a match badly hit by the weather, a draw was always the most likely outcome.
Worcestershire did make an early breakthrough to briefly make things interesting, Mitchell again involved as he caught England opener Michael Carberry for six off Moeen Ali as Hampshire slipped to 10 for one.
However, that was as good as it got for Mitchell's men as home skipper Jimmy Adams and Liam Dawson – unbeaten on 10 and 11 respectively - ensured Hampshire suffered no further setbacks as they reached 27 for one off 17 overs, at which point the two teams shook hands on a draw.
MATCH PIC: Hampshire celebrate the wicket of Ross Whiteley in the afternoon session at @TheAgeasBowl today. pic.twitter.com/4xzmiC5ovp
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 9, 2014
Worcestershire, who finished four points behind fourth-placed Hampshire in Division Two last season, take 12 points from the match while the hosts put nine on the board.
A winner always looked unlikely with rain washing out all but 8.5 overs on the opening two days in Southampton, but Mitchell made the most of the time available to record his 15th first-class century.
Starting the final day on 44 in a total of 103 for one, Mitchell progressed his second-wicket stand with Moeen to 153 before the England batsman fell for 69, bowled by Dawson.
Slow left-armer Dawson also accounted for teenage newcomer Tom Kohler-Cadmore - the 2013 Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year falling for two on his first-class debut - as Worcestershire reached lunch on 213 for three, with Mitchell tantilisingly unbeaten on 99.
The 30-year-old did not let the break affect him though and he was soon celebrating three figures.
Hampshire continued to make regular breakthroughs at the other end, Matt Coles finishing with figures of 3-58 off 28 overs, but Mitchell remained unbowed as he helped Worcestershire reach 350.
Mitchell currently 170* having faced 300 balls. #captainfantastichttp://t.co/uYqi1cppjt
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) April 9, 2014
The right-hander struck 23 fours in his 306-ball knock before calling time on his side's innings, having contributed almost half their total.