Worcestershire’s attack stuck to their task and bowled well for little reward before Ed Pollock and Jake Libby made a rapid reply with the bat on the opening day of the three-day encounter with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
New ball bowler Joe Leach, in particular, deserved a greater return than his final figures of 1-38 from 15 overs.
He asked questions all day, particularly in his opening spell to century-maker Dominic Sibley, before finally gaining some tangible success in the final session when dismissing Sam Hain.
But all of the front-line bowlers benefitted from another excellent work-out after last week’s games versus Oxford UCCE and Hampshire.
The declaration came at 243-3 from 76 overs, with Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes unbeaten on 76.
Former Warwickshire batter Pollock and Libby then put on an unbroken 51 in ten overs before the close.
Pollock scored a run a ball 32 with seven boundaries while Libby ended undefeated on 19.
Warwickshire batted first after an uncontested toss, and Leach settled in a groove with the new ball.
He beat the outside edge of Sibley on several occasions, and one nick flew through the slips for a boundary.
Leach’s replacement, Ed Barnard, had successive lbw appeals against Rob Yates turned down.
The Warwickshire pair survived this early examination, plus an accurate spell from Adam Finch, and batted through until the penultimate over before lunch.
Worcestershire Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, came into the attack at 88-0, and Sibley worked the ball on the leg side and set off for a sharp single.
But keeper Ben Cox reacted quickly, and, after Sibley hesitated, Yates (39) tried to regain his ground at the non-striker’s end and failed to beat the throw to D’Oliveira.
Sibley went to a 111-ball half-century after lunch, and he and Bears captain Will Rhodes batted through until tea at 179-1 without being parted.
Sibley retired out after reaching three figures, and Leach had his reward when Hain (8) attempted a cut and edged through to Cox.
Leach ended with 15-1-38-1, Charlie Morris 10-3-28-0, Ben Gibbon 12-2-51-0, Barnard 12-5-42-0, Finch 14-1-36-0, D’Oliveira 12-1-39-0 and Libby 1-0-2-0.
After a solid start, Pollock and Libby scored freely when Worcestershire launched their reply.
Pollock brought up the half-century in the final over of the day from Craig Miles via a straight drive and cover drive for successive fours.
