Jack Haynes praised a “brilliant knock” from Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira in “leading from the front” as Worcestershire enjoyed a successful second day in the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Derbyshire at the Incora County Ground.
D’Oliveira will resume on Saturday morning unbeaten on 87 in an innings which mirrored his batting in the opening game of last season when he scored a superb century.
He put on 111 in just 20 overs with Haynes (62) and then an unbroken 75 with Matthew Waite (34 not out) to steer Worcestershire to 321-6 and a lead of 10 runs heading into day three.
Haynes said: “I think the way that Dolly (Brett D’Oliveira) played there was brilliant and he really led from the front.
“It was a fantastic knock. He did it last year in the first game against Leicestershire when he scored a brilliant hundred.
“Hopefully, he can go on and do that tomorrow as well. He was in control all the way.
“He came in and played with a real positive mindset, and he quickly put them under a lot of pressure.”
Waite followed up his four wickets in Derbyshire’s first innings with an invaluable knock.
Haynes said: “We all know how good he is with the bat. He did really well when he came in and calmed the ship after a couple of wickets went.
“With the ball, he was the pick of the bowlers in the first innings, really accurate and swinging it as well.”
Haynes was pleased to get a good score under his belt and says the other batters, many of whom made decent contributions, will benefit from the time in the middle.”
He said: “I was fairly nervous going out to bat for the first game, but it was nice to get a few. I would have liked a few more and wasn’t happy with the shot I got out to.
“Pleased to contribute nonetheless, and nice for everyone to have a decent hit out in the middle and hopefully take some confidence into the second innings.”
The 22-year-old is delighted with the progress being made by Worcestershire in the game so far.
He said: “We are in a decent position going into tomorrow now. We got a couple of quick wickets to finish off their first innings and have put a decent score on the board with four wickets left still.
“The boys are in good spirits to try and extend the lead tomorrow.
“There is something in the pitch with the new ball, and if we hit our straps when we do bowl, then we can put them under a lot of pressure.
“But as the ball gets older, it is nice to bat on.”
