Jack Haynes and Club Captain Joe Leach hit half-centuries for Worcestershire on the opening day of the Second Eleven Championship derby with Warwickshire at New Road.
Haynes continued the excellent form he has shown with the bat in all formats and at all levels this summer, and in the process, took his Second Eleven Championship run tally for the campaign past the 500 run mark.
He has now amassed 547 runs in the competition, a tally only surpassed by Sussex’s Ali Orr (590), in addition to his excellent form at senior level.
Leach, who opted to bat after winning the toss, came to the wicket at 191-6 and received excellent support from Josh Baker.
The long-serving all-rounder mixed aggression with solid defence in lifting the final total to 284 all out on a wicket of some uneven bounce.
England seam bowler Chris Woakes impressed on his return to action after injury and picked up three wickets for 34 after bowling three five-over spells.
Warwickshire’s openers Hamza Sheikh and Amir Khan, both aged 15, reached 22-0 by the close from 11 overs.
It was an excellent day’s cricket in warm sunshine for Worcestershire members and Under-17s, who are entitled to free admission, to enjoy. General admission for the next three days is only £5
Worcestershire went into this game lying in seventh spot in the 18-team table, with two matches to play.
They have won two of their six games to date and have picked up 75 points at an average of 12.5 points per game.
Because the number of Second Eleven Championship games played varies from county to county, the average points per game will determine the eventual champions
.
Worcestershire fielded a virtually full-strength side in their first action for a fortnight.
Jake Libby, who signed a new three-year contract last week, went lbw to Liam Norwell for seven, and Manraj Johal bowled fellow opener Daryl Mitchell (10).
Haynes and Tom Fell prospered in a third-wicket stand of 80 in 19 overs.
They moved the total onto 111-2 by lunch with Haynes on 31 and Fell unbeaten on 47.
Haynes accelerated when play resumed and picked up three boundaries in an over from Norwell on his way to a 69 ball half-century.
Fell was one short of his fifty when he was caught on the crease and went lbw to Norwell for 49, and then Haynes on 53 nicked a delivery from Woakes through to keeper Kai Smith.
Ed Barnard (2) drove at Woakes and was caught at third slip, and Jacques Banton (26) batted sensibly before he was run out.
Gareth Rodrick (25) nicked a Michael Booth delivery through to Smith, who then held onto a chance offered by Dillon Pennington (10) off Woakes.
Leach lofted spinner Karl Carver straight back down the ground for six, and Baker collected two boundaries off Woakes.
A back-foot cover drive for four at Johal’s expense took Leach to his half-century from 92 balls with one six and six boundaries.
Baker (29) again showed the ability with the bat he had demonstrated in the Royal London Cup during a stand of 70 in 16 overs.
Leach was left unbeaten on exactly 50 after Norwell dismissed Baker and Adam Finch (0) with successive deliveries.
