Worcestershire pair Vikram Solanki and Ben Smith denied Somerset a victory at New Road which would have put some pressure on Division One leaders Durham in the LV County Championship.

Veteran seamer Andrew Caddick rolled over the last two wickets as the bottom-of-the-table home side were forced to follow on 203 behind but Solanki underpinned a successful survival struggle with a majestic 93 from 89 balls.

An eye-catching partnership of 136 in 23 overs with Smith, who saw the job through for an undefeated 80, took away Somerset's momentum in a match they had dominated until the last two sessions.

Dismissed for 225 at the first attempt, Worcestershire discovered some much-needed resilience in closing their second innings at 225 for four after defying Somerset's efforts to claim a fourth win in five games.

The West Country team will feel they were robbed by the weather after a washout on the first day and then persistent showers in their game in hand on Durham.

In all they lost more than a day and a half and instead of closing to within 14 points of the champions they are still 24 behind.

The last morning went according to plan for Justin Langer's side. The early use of Arul Suppiah served a dual purpose as the spinner took two wickets and speeded up the over-rate to avoid a possible points deduction.

Worcestershire added 16 runs to the overnight 164 for six before Suppiah made his breakthrough. Langer held a neat slip catch from Steven Davies (44) and Richard Jones was leg-before for a first-ball duck.

Gareth Andrew held up his former county with an unbeaten 43 - his highest score since leaving Taunton - but Caddick (three for 53) removed Chris Whelan and Matt Mason with catches by Craig Kieswetter.

The wicketkeeper then gave Somerset a boost at the start of the second innings on either side of lunch. The openers were both caught when playing attacking shots - Daryl Mitchell driving at Charl Willoughby's 12th delivery and Stephen Moore attempting to pull Alfonso Thomas.

It was only then that the game went away from Somerset. Solanki was positive from the outset and in a dazzling passage, he took three fours each off David Stiff and Zander de Bruyn before driving and pulling four more boundaries in an over from Peter Trego.

De Bruyn eventually found the answer by bringing one back to take out Solanki's off stump, but Smith, having survived a sharp chance in the gully on 48, went on to claim 15 fours in equalling his score of the season.

There was just a brief scare when Moeen Ali (16) top edged a return catch to Caddick with 25 overs available to Somerset and Worcestershire only six runs ahead but the home side held out for a draw.