Dillon Pennington believes the Worcestershire players can take “huge confidence” from their overall performance against Leicestershire into the remainder of the season.
Worcestershire came within one wicket of victory after dominating play, apart from the opening hour, throughout the four-day match at the Uptonsteel County Ground.
There were many plus points with Brett D’Oliveira and Ed Pollock scoring centuries, Jake Libby, Ed Barnard and Joe Leach hitting fifties, and the five-pronged attack sharing the wickets, including a career-best by Josh Baker.
Only the loss of more than a day’s play to the weather, plus an excellent unbeaten century from Hassan Azad, denied Worcestershire a deserved win.
Pace bowler Pennington said: “A lot of positives for the rest of the season? Absolutely. Everyone showed what they had been doing over the winter and in pre-season and the things they’ve been working on.
“I really do think we dominated the game, almost from ball one to the last ball of the game.
“Everyone did their bit and, up to the last ball, everyone put their 100 per cent in, which is the best thing, and what Brett (D’Oliveira) was asking for. It was so good to watch
“When you come off like that, it can almost feel like a loss because you’ve tried so hard. But, when you look back on the game, we can be pretty proud of ourselves and take that huge confidence going into the season.
“We were so, so close, and on another occasion, the delivery from Joe (Leach) in the final session, which popped up in between three fielders, goes to hand.
“You get a few more play and misses that turn into edges, and also, the second new ball didn’t do as much as we thought.
“When you look back on it, we will be absolutely fine about it and, as I say, take the confidence into the next game of individual success throughout the game.
“It will be good to regroup, have a couple of training sessions, get in the gym, and come back fighting for the second game.”
Two of the success stories were new Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira, and debutant Ed Pollock, who scored contrasting but equally brilliant centuries.
Pennington said: “It was brilliant for the likes of Ed (Pollock) to come in and play the way he did with such freedom, and it was so good to watch.
“I’ve played some red ball second team games against him, and it isn’t fun! Watching him get going for our team was brilliant.
“He can take the game away from any attack as he did on Saturday evening.
“For Brett, in his first game as captain, it was a great hundred, and we are all so chuffed for him.
“It was amazing. He works harder than anyone and cares more than anyone, so it was brilliant for him to get that success.
“On the bowling side, you had Joe’s four wickets in the first innings, Charlie bowling brilliantly, and Josh (Baker) putting together a career-best performance.
“Myself, I felt good, bowled a lot of overs, which was nice to get under the belt.”
