MARCUS North put himself in the shop window for next season with a superb century that steered Derbyshire to a draw against Worcestershire at Chesterfield.

The 27-year-old ended his short spell with Derbyshire by scoring 161 to take his aggregate in six innings to 465 at an average of 95.

He must have a chance of returning to Derby as one of their overseas players in 2007 but other counties will have noted the Australian's quality.

Worcestershire got a close-up view of his class for six hours as North applied himself to deny the visitors the chance of a fifth straight Championship victory.

He did not offer a chance and by the time Vikram Solanki turned one past his bat, the match was heading for a draw.

Derbyshire had gone into the final day in danger of losing with four wickets down and only 76 runs in front but North and Ant Botha batted through the morning session.

There was only one chance, a hard head high edge from Botha off Zaheer Khan that Lou Vincent got a hand to at second slip but could not hold.

The New Zealander was in the slips because Graeme Hick had earlier damaged the webbing on his left hand and was off the field.

There were few other incidents as North and Botha moved smoothly through to lunch, adding 103 in 30 overs to stretch the lead to 179.

Worcestershire had to take quick wickets in the afternoon session but nine more overs had been used up before Solanki turned to his own off-spin and snared Botha.

The all-rounder had just completed his second fifty of the game when he padded up to Solanki's first ball and was lbw, ending a fifth wicket stand of 149 in 51 overs.

North departed in Solanki's next over when he aimed to clip the ball through midwicket and was bowled. He had faced 312 balls and hit a six and 23 fours in an innings which had saved his team.

Former Worcestershire wicketkeeper Jamie Pipe and Graeme Welch crossed off another 13 overs before Pipe was yorked by Zaheer, who then had Welch lbw.

Derbyshire lost their last two wickets quickly after tea but they were 263 runs in front with only 27 overs left and, after a short stoppage for rain, Worcestershire scored 82 for the loss of Stephen Moore taking the match aggregate to 1,339 for the fall of only 31 wickets.