AZEEM Rafiq launched the Worcestershire bowling attack to all parts at New Road in a sensational 92-ball maiden first-class hundred but Yorkshire failed to secure an unlikely win.

“I’m delighted,” said Rafiq.

“I tried to keep things nice and simple and it’s great to get that first hundred under my belt.”

Yorkshire’s total of 516 was a fantastic achievement for a side who were 108 for five just 24 hours earlier, as Matthew Hoggard assisted Rafiq superbly with a half-century in a record 150-run ninth-wicket stand for Tykes against Worcestershire.

The 18-year-old off spinner stunned the crowd with 13 fours and three sixes hit to all parts of the ground as he showed his ability to cut, pull, drive and hook to terrific effect.

He resumed on 62 not out and was quickly into his stride to show soft hands in directing Ashley Noffke to the third-man fence.

In an innings where 70 runs came from boundaries, it was fitting that a four took him to his century when he drove Gareth Batty through the covers, before succumbing two balls later for 101 when spooning the ball straight down the ground to Matt Mason.

Hoggard made his 50 with back-to-back fours off the hapless Chris Whelan, twice clattering him down to long off.

Deon Kruis got in on the act as last man with three fours in a run-a-ball 16 before he was bowled by Moeen Ali.

Yorkshire had an outside chance of victory when leading by 101 with 73 overs left in the match but the hosts made their way to lunch without loss in their second innings.

Rafiq picked up a couple of wickets before the close but the introduction of Joe Sayers and Andrew Gale into the attack signalled the end of the game as a contest and the captains shook hands at ten to five with 16 overs remaining and the hosts 203 for three.

Tim Bresnan gave his outside Ashes chance a boost with a knock of 97, but one man with experience of the series say he thinks it will be difficult for the strike bowler to force his way into the squad.

“It’s tough for him because he’s an all-rounder,” said Worcestershire seamer Simon Jones.

“He’s more or less going for Freddie’s (Flintoff) spot so it depends on his fitness.

“There’ll be plenty of nervous players around because they’re the best games you can play in.”

Scoreboard

Worcestershire v Yorkshire At New Road

Overnight: Worcestershire 415 (S M Davies 112, D K H Mitchell 68, S CMoore 60, M M Ali 55). Yorkshire 413-8 (A W Gale 101, T T Bresnan 97, AzeemRafiq 62 no; C D Whelan 4-98).

Yorkshire First Innings Rafiq c Mason b Batty .........................100

M J Hoggard not out ............................56

G J Kruis b M M Ali ...............................16

Extras (lb16 w1 nb8 pens 0)........25

Total (131 overs) ....................516

Fall: 1-15 2-97 3-107 4-107 5-108 6-278 7- 328 8-334 9-484

Score at 130 overs: 9-511

Total Bonus Pts: Worcestershire 7 Yorkshire 8

Bowling: Kabir Ali 25-2-127-1. Mason 22-8- 67-1. Noffke 28-8-77-1. Whelan 25-4-130-4.

Batty 25-5-79-2. Mitchell 4-1-11-0. M M Ali 2-0-9-1.

Worcestershire Second Innings

D K Mitchell lbw b Rafiq .................32

S C Moore b Kruis ..................52

V S Solanki c Rudolph b Rafiq ..............48

B F Smith not out .........................48

M M Ali not out ....................14

Extras (lb6 w1 nb2 pens 0).......... 9

Total 3 wkts dec (57 overs)....203

Fall: 1-67 2-95 3-176

Did Not Bat: S M Davies, A A Noffke, G J Batty, Kabir Ali, C D Whelan, M S Mason.

Total Bonus Pts: Worcestershire 7 Yorkshire 8

Bowling: Bresnan 4-0-19-0. Shahzad 13-2- 43-0. Rafiq 22-0-82-2. Kruis 7-1-15-1.

Rudolph 8-0-24-0. Sayers 2-0-3-0. Gale 1- 0-11-0.

Worcestershire (11pts) drew with Yorkshire (12pts).