WARWICKSHIRE won the battle for bonus points as their LV County Championship Division One match against Lancashire dribbled out into a predictable draw at Edgbaston.

It was the 12th draw in 14 games at the ground with the loss of the entire first day to rain and another slow pitch contributing to a familiar stalemate.

Only Francois du Plessis, who made a championship-best 79, and Mark Chilton (85), with his highest score since April, will have gained much satisfaction from a dreary final day as Lancashire enjoyed some batting practice.

Warwickshire secured maximum bonus points by extending their first innings until their ninth-wicket pair of Chris Woakes and Naqaash Tahir had taken them past 400.

Warwickshire’s declaration denied Lancashire a final bowling point and they then picked up all three bowling point themselves after the sides agreed to play on into the final hour even though a positive result could not be achieved.

Lancashire, who were dismissed for 317, have now collected maximum batting points only once in their last 29 games.

Warwickshire initially made Lancashire graft for runs with Tahir, who is playing for a new contract, pinning Tom Smith lbw with an inswinger then returning to have VVS Laxman caught at slip by Jonathan Trott.

Sharp

Paul Horton struck eight fours in his 81-ball 43 before he clipped Woakes to short midwicket where Jim Troughton plucked out a sharp catch.

But the best spell of the day came from Irish international Boyd Rankin who enlivened a sleepy afternoon by having Mal Loye caught behind slashing. Rankin was unlucky not to follow up with the wicket of Chilton, twice beating him outside off stump in one over.

Chilton went on to complete a stubborn half century from 78 balls but it was Du Plessis, recovered from a calf injury that forced him to miss two championship games, who provided the entertainment for a sparse crowd.

The South African struck seven fours in a 58-ball 50 and went past his previous championship-best of 58 but he holed out to deep midwicket off Ant Botha when a century appeared there for the taking. Chilton and Du Plessis added 133 in 27 overs for the fifth wicket.

Chilton eventually holed out to long on to give Botha his fourth wicket but Warwickshire clinched maximum bonus points when Tahir bowled Sajid Mahmood on his way to four for 55, his best championship figures in two years.

Click here for the latest scorecard from the BBC

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