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Hick double hundred stymies Kiwis
Graeme Hick's unbeaten 204 made sure New Zealand never had a chance of winning what turned out to be a drawn tour match against Worcestershire on Monday.
Former England batsman Graeme Hick's unbeaten 204 made sure New Zealand never had a chance of winning what turned out to be a drawn tour match against Worcestershire on Monday.
At stumps, on the final day of four, the tourists were 77 for one at New Road after the 123rd century of Hick's career had light up the day's play.
New Zealand's Scott Styris was 44 not out and Mark Richardson unbeaten on 20 at the close.
Hick's latest three figure score saw draw him level with England great Denis Compton at equal 11th place in the all-time list of century makers.
Topping the all-time list with 197 hundreds is Surrey and England legend Sir Jack Hobbs.
But Hick's latest big score is unlikely to lead an England recall.
Born in what was Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, Hick, 38 later this month, has never reproduced his remorseless run-scoring at first-class level in the international arena, a Test average of 31.32 in stark contrast to a first-class mark of over 53.
He played the last of his 65 Tests three years ago and was dropped after several previous recalls following a sequence of just 27 runs in four innings against Sri Lanka.
New Zealand had realistic hopes of victory at the start of Monday's play, needing nine wickets to win and with a lead of 109.
But Hick blocked their path with a dominant run-a-ball-innings featuring eight sixes and 27 fours in the 15th double century of his career as Worcestershire made 318 for six declared.
That left New Zealand needing a stiff 210 from 23 overs - a scoring rate of more than nine an over - to win.
But once they lost the out of form Michael Papps, lbw to Mark Harrity for six, the tourists played out time for a draw.
Earlier the New Zealand bowlers, looking to secure a place in the side for next week's first Test against an England team fresh from a 3-0 Test series win in the West Indies, could do nothing about Hick.
The closest he came to losing his wicket was when he was 'caught' at cover on 163 by Craig McMillan off a no-ball from paceman Jacob Oram.
New Zealand have one more match, a four-day encounter against Kent starting on Thursday, before the first Test of a three-match series begins at Lord's on May 20.
