WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Daryl Mitchell again showed his liking for the Ageas Bowl as he completed his first century of the season on a rain-hit third day at Hampshire in LV= County Championship Division One.

Mitchell, who had scored 172 not out in the corresponding fixture last season, hit 142no from 303 balls as the County declared on a first-innings 403-5 in reply to 222 all out, netting five batting bonus points in the process.

Ben Cox weighed in with a rapid 69no after rain prevented play from getting under way until 4pm.

There were 40 overs left with Mitchell resuming on 80 and Championship debutant Colin Munro on 4 with Worcestershire just one run in arrears on 221-3.

Munro produced a flurry of boundaries in his first innings in first-class cricket since making 281 for Auckland against Central District on March 24 when he hit a world-record 23 sixes.

The New Zealander hoisted Sean Ervine over mid-wicket for six and then reverse-swept spinner Danny Briggs twice for four.

He made 34 off 32 balls when caught behind off Briggs after a half-century stand off just 8.5 overs with Mitchell.

First-class debutant Joe Clarke got off the mark with a cut for four off Gareth Berg, while Mitchell reached a deserved century with his 11th boundary at the expense of Briggs.

But the spinner forced Clarke (6) to edge behind with Worcestershire on 289-5.

Mitchell lofted Briggs over mid-on for four to bring up the 300 and the in-form Cox twice drove Bradley Wheal for boundaries.

Cox went to 50 off just 53 balls with six fours as the County secured five batting bonus points before their declaration.

Hampshire replied with 1-0 off three overs in their second innings ahead of tomorrow's final day.