WORCESTERSHIRE remain bottom of Specsavers County Championship Division One despite ending a run of three defeats with a high-scoring draw at Surrey.

Scott Borthwick’s unbeaten 82 guided the hosts to a comfortable result at the Kia Oval with Surrey reaching 173-3 in their second innings to finish the match 81 runs in front.

For Worcestershire, an 11-point haul and seeing their batsmen pile up 526, the County’s highest first-class total at the Oval, will do much for morale.

But a flat pitch with little pace in it always made the draw the likeliest result after Surrey totalled 434 in the first innings of the match.

The final day’s play was notable not just for in-form Borthwick’s runs but also for Amar Virdi’s 6-105.

The 19-year-old off-spinner took all four wickets to fall in the morning session after the visitors resumed on 469-6.

He had Ben Twohig (9) caught at mid-on and Joe Leach (18) at extra cover before snapping up both Josh Tongue (9) and Ed Barnard, who converted his overnight 42 into a 135-ball 66, off his own bowling.

Virdi also saw Leach dropped at short leg from the first ball he faced.

Surrey openers Mark Stoneman and Rory Burns got through to lunch at 35-0 but both fell early in the afternoon session.

Stoneman was lbw to Charlie Morris for 20 and Burns held low at deep square leg for 30 as he swept at debutant Twohig’s left-arm spin.

From 74-2, Borthwick was joined by Ryan Patel in a stand of 62 to ensure no further alarms and all but ensure the draw.

Patel was caught at mid-wicket for 25 pulling at Morris in the last over before the tea interval.

Ben Foakes kept Borthwick company until hands were shaken at 4.50pm with Surrey’s in-form wicketkeeper-batsman ending up on 11 not out.

Borthwick, who played some fine strokes through extra cover, faced 154 balls and hit seven fours.

Worcestershire captain Leach said: “Our batsmen really impressed me in this game.

"We came into this match after playing on three poor pitches and so to come off the back of that and get us a total of 526 was a great effort.

“Joe Clarke is an international batsman of the future.

"Whether that’s sooner rather than later we’ll have to wait and see but he’s got all the shots plus a tremendous temperament.

"That’s what has always stood out and he’s also a batsman who has got the mentality to cash in big when the opportunity arises as it did in this game.

"That’s not something you can say about all batsmen.”