Jack Haynes scored an unbeaten 81 for Worcestershire Seconds on the second day of the four-day encounter with Warwickshire Seconds at Portland Road, Edgbaston.
Haynes, who made his first class debut against Australia, struck one six and 11 fours in his 158 ball knock to boost his hopes of further senior recognition before the end of the season.
He shared in an unbroken partnership of 72 in 25 overs for the fourth wicket with Nick Hammond as Worcestershire closed on 158-3 in reply to Warwickshire’s 455 all out.
Warwickshire resumed on 302-5 and Josh Breed made the first breakthrough of the day in bowling Alex Mellor (23).
Breed also accounted for Craig Miles (25) and then Ollie Westbury accounted for George Panayi (28).
But Ethan Brookes held the latter half of the innings together and had moved onto 71 before he was caught and bowled by Ed Bragg.
Bragg collected his second scalp to wrap up the innings when dismissing George Garrett (2).
Josh Tongue finished with figures of 17-5-40-2, Bragg 19.1-3-66-2, Breed 26-1-128-3, Ollie Clarke 13-4-43-2 and Westbury 8-1-35-2.
When Worcestershire launched their reply, Garrett made a double breakthrough in bowling Josh Dell (10) and trapping Westbury (14) lbw.
Skipper Alex Milton, fresh from his fine 74 against Australia, made 26 before he became a victim of Bradley Wightman.
But Haynes scored freely and, after surviving one chance to deep square leg on 41 off George Furrer, brought up his half century off 89 balls with one six and seven fours.
He was joined at 86-3 by Hammond who was fit again after scoring centuries against Leicestershire and Durham in the Second Eleven Championship.
The fourth wicket pair brought up a half century stand off 92 balls and by the close Hammond was unbeaten on 24.
