ALL-ROUNDER Joe Leach returned the best match figures of his career but Worcestershire’s victory bid fell short against rock-bottom Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

A combination of the wet weather and stubborn last day batting resistance from the hosts frustrated Worcestershire in the drawn match in LV= County Championship Division One.

Leach finished with figures of 4-89 in Hampshire’s second innings and an overall game analysis of 50-10-152-9.

But the visitors were thwarted by a dogged display by Will Smith who batted two sessions for 64 not out.

Hampshire, who had a first innings deficit of 181, finished on 245-6 before the two captains shook hands on a draw with nine scheduled overs to play.

Worcestershire were left to rue the loss of more than 100 overs in a match they dominated after the opening session on Sunday.

The County collected maximum bowling and batting points and five points for a draw to give them a match tally of 13.

Leach has now taken 27 Championship wickets in four appearances this season.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell showed an impressive return to form with 142 not out, Ben Cox impressed behind the stumps and with another 69 not out, and Ed Barnard showed promise with the ball on his Championship debut.

The visitors claimed four wickets in the pre-lunch session and Hampshire went into the interval on 83-4 - still 98 runs in arrears.

Leach made the first breakthrough of the day in the third over when Liam Dawson (7) was removed with 10 runs on the board.

Leach accounted for former England opener Michael Carberry (6) before James Adams and James Vince provided resistance.

Vince, the leading scorer in Division Two last season, played in a determined and circumspect manner before Worcestershire made two breakthroughs.

Vince was lbw off Barnard with Hampshire 83-3 and Leach ended the resistance of Adams for 47 when he was also trapped leg before on the stroke of lunch.

The County attack continued to probe away after lunch but Adam Wheater and Smith dug in.

Wheater reached his half-century off 95 balls with two boundaries off Leach but the bowler had his revenge by dismissing him in the same over.

Leach removed Sean Ervine (8) with Hampshire 170-6 - still 11 runs in arrears.

But it proved to be Worcestershire’s last success.

The second new ball was taken with 19 overs remaining at 195-6 but Charlie Morris and Leach were unable to split the seventh wicket pair.

By the close they had added 72 in 21 overs with Gareth Berg unbeaten on 32.

Hampshire remain glued to the foot of Division One.