Worcestershire were denied the chance to claim their third win of the season in frustrating fashion at New Road. Their outside Championship hopes were kyboshed by the New Road weather for the second time in a fortnight. Needing just four Surrey wickets to clinch victory and move into third place within 31 points of Warwickshire, Tom Moodys men again fell just short. Once again badly held up by a day of rain, they lost five hours playing time before starting at 6pm. But, although Kabir Ali and Matt Mason both claimed a wicket, Englands Graham Thorpe managed to keep one end secure to hold out for the draw. The loss of almost a days play was infuriating, although even more annoying was the potential eight overs lost in perfect batting conditions the previous evening when Worcestershire were denied the chance to take the extra half hour. Skipper Ben Smiths request was controversially denied by umpires Barry Dudleston and Peter Hartley, on the grounds that the home side did not have a realistic chance of forcing victory on Friday night. The umpires judgement was vindicated by the fact that Moodys men took only two in 16 last night. And Worcestershires Director of Cricket had no argument. The captain asked the umpires for the half an hour, confirmed Moody. But they have the discretion over such matters and they thought it didnt warrant it. After the letdown of having Kent nine down and being unable to force victory a fortnight ago, Moody was once again frustrated at another victory chance slipping away. You cant do much about the weather. Its frustrating as weve dominated the game. It was only Worcestershires keenness that even gave them the chance of victory. And both Mason and Kabir bowled with enough hostility to cause even Thorpe some problems. Starting at 5pm, knowing they had 16 overs in the final hour to get the job done, they were nearly halfway through their allocation before Mason forced an opening. Just an over after Kabir had found Martin Bicknells edge, only for it to land just in front of Steve Rhodes, the Worcester keeper took off to his right to hang onto another Bicknell edge off Mason. Three overs later, Kabir got in on the act when he yorked Ian Salisbury and took his off stump. But, despite a few narrow scrapes Surrey side have shown in four days, Thorpe and Jimmy Ormond hung on to rescue their team. n WORCESTERSHIRE have been forced into a change for todays totesport League clash at Derby. Andy Bichel is to rest a shoulder injury and is replaced by Nadeem Malik, while Stephen Moore makes way for one-day specialist David Leatherdale. | 
