LUKE Procter continued his impressive form for Lancashire with a half-century yesterday as their LV= County Championship Division Two clash with Worcestershire at Emirates Old Trafford heads for a draw.

The all-rounder vindicated Peter Moores’s and Glen Chapple’s decision to allow him to open the batting alongside Paul Horton with a composed 52 during a first-wicket stand of 97 as the hosts replied to Worcester’s 334 with 250-3 from 92 overs.

Procter was chosen to face the new ball ahead of Stephen Moore, Tom Smith and Simon Katich, although the latter was still selected in the team and will resume this morning unbeaten on 25 with Ashwell Prince (34) for company.

Procter, 24, had taken four wickets with his fast-medium pace bowling during Thursday’s second day.

Rain for the second day running - 23 overs were lost yesterday either side of tea - means that it will take something special for either side to win this match.

The most likely winners are Lancashire. They could bat until the end of the 110th over when first-innings bonus points are no longer available, declare, try to bowl Worcester out very cheaply in their second innings and then knock off the runs required. But on a placid pitch, that would seem unlikely.

The stand between Procter and Horton, who posted 66 off 214 balls, was only Lancashire’s fourth opening partnership above 50 in the last 26 Championship innings. Three of those have involved Procter in the last four innings.

Procter was strong on the drive. He brought up his 116-ball fifty with a whipped six over long-leg off Chris Russell during the morning, but he fell two balls later when he was through his shot too early and prodded to mid-on.

Horton departed during the afternoon when he ran himself out. He played a Russell delivery to Neil Pinner at cover and set off down the pitch, only to hear Karl Brown (34) call no. By the time wicketkeeper Michael Johnson whipped the bails off, Horton was still well short of his ground.

Play restarted at 5.20pm following a rain break of just over two hours, but Brown was quickly back in the pavilion when he edged Alan Richardson to Moeen Ali at first slip to leave the score at 179-3 in the 77th over.

Prince and Katich upped the ante in an unbroken 71-run stand for the fourth wicket before close.