With Anthony McGrath still striding the stage like a Colossus, Yorkshire were robbed by bad weather of the Championship victory against Worcestershire which would almost certainly have clinched promotion.

But they still hold on to third place in the table and, with two games yet to play compared to one by most of their rivals, they remain in excellent shape to make it back into the top flight.

Overnight rain followed by a thick drizzle left Yorkshire kicking their heels until 3pm on Saturday when play was able to start in murky conditions with Yorkshire on 89 for two and requiring 114 for their sixth victory.

McGrath, 173 not out in the first innings, resumed on 42 and his thirst for runs remained unquenchable.

Unaffected by the rapidly deteriorating light he reached his 50 off 43 balls and continued to hit out at everything, once stepping down the pitch to thrash Kabir Ali over long on for a four which bounced just inside the rope.

Further drizzle and greater gloom resulted in the umpires bringing the players off after only five overs when Yorkshire were 125 for two and wanting only a further 78 off 35 overs, McGrath having charged on to 65 from 55 balls with 11 boundaries.

Yorkshire understandably felt play should have continued but a few minutes later it began to rain more heavily and umpires Mervyn Kitchen and Nigel Cowley had no option but to call the game off.

"We had no complaints in the end but it was very disappointing that the weather almost certainly stopped us from going on to win the match," said director of cricket, David Byas.

Umpire Kitchen explained: "Conditions became unfit for the fielding side and in our opinion they were dangerous for both teams.

"The outfield was wetter than when we started and players were sliding around with one fielder crashing into the boundary boards.

"It also became so dark that I often didn't have a clue where the ball was going and it was not fit to continue."

Both sides took ten points out of the draw but Yorkshire outplayed their opponents who then had two points deducted because they had bowled their overs at two slow a rate.

Yorkshire now meet bottom of the table, Derbyshire, at Derby on Friday and then move on to Northampton for their last Championship match of the season.

With the Test Series ending today, Byas will contact England coach Duncan Fletcher to see if and when Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard will be available to Yorkshire.

"It is likely to be a spinners' pitch at Northampton and Vaughan's off-spin would be a big asset," said Byas.