ESSEX drew their second County Championship Division Two away match in succession at Worcestershire.

An unbeaten century from Worcestershire batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore off 151 balls helped Worcestershire secure maximum batting points against Essex, who helped prevent the follow-on in what would have been an unlikely Essex victory.

Worcestershire began the day on 226-5 - still needing 76 to avoid the follow on target of 302 and a second new ball due after eight overs play.

But Kohler-Cadmore featured in three half century partnerships with Ben Cox, Joe Leach and Matt Henry before skipper Daryl Mitchell declared on 411-8 - 40 adrift on first innings - early in the afternoon session.

Essex then reached 95-2 by the early close with England Test captain Alastair Cook scoring an unbeaten 48 in his final Championship innings before the series against Sri Lanka to follow his first innings ton.

Kohler-Cadmore, whose maiden Championship hundred was scored against Middlesex in the final game of last season, was unbeaten on 119 from 170 balls with two sixes and 17 fours.

A draw was always favourite to be the likely outcome after the loss of 102 overs play on the opening two days to the weather.

But Worcestershire still had work to do after the loss of five wickets for 43 runs during yesterday evening's session.

Cox had one slice of luck when he edged David Masters first delivery of the day to the boundary.

But in general the Worcestershire keeper and Kohler-Cadmore were untroubled in adding 61 before the former on 24 drove Graham Napier straight to point.

Kohler-Cadmore reeled off a series of impressive drives and found another willing ally in vice-captain Leach.

Then in the final over before lunch he showed his hitting power with successive sixes over long off against spinner Tom Westley.

Leach (23) was another willing ally in adding 70 in 14 overs before he edged the first ball after the interval from Jamie Porter to Alastair Cook at first slip.

Kohler-Cadmore went to his hundred with a thick edge for four at Porter's expense before he and the promoted Henry upped the run-rate to clinch ther final batting point in the 109th over.

Henry raced to 34 off 25 balls and his dismissal off David Masters prompted the declaration.

Essex opener Nick Browne (8) fell cheaply for the second time in the game and then Moeen Ali enjoyed an elongated bowl in which he dismissed first innings century-maker Tom Westley (20) before the two teams shook hands.