Adam Finch’s first five-wicket haul in first class cricket and splendid post-tea resistance by Gareth Roderick and Matthew Waite were the highlights for Worcestershire on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship encounter with Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.
Pace bowler Finch picked up two more wickets today to finish with figures of 20-3-74-5 as Glamorgan were dismissed for 258 in their first innings – a lead of 149.
The 22-year-old was largely responsible for Worcestershire picking up maximum bowling points.
Despite good contributions from Azhar Ali and Adam Hose, Worcestershire were still 37 in arrears when Roderick and Waite joined forces shortly before tea.
They again showed the necessary resolve and application during a partnership of 72 for the seventh wicket.
Roderick was dismissed shortly before a premature close for bad light, but Waite remained unbeaten on 45 to take his run tally for the season to 328.
Worcestershire closed the day on 195-7 from 60 overs – an overall advantage of 46.
Glamorgan resumed the second day on 177-6, and only four runs had been added when Finch claimed his fourth wicket.
Billy Root (28) nicked a delivery across the left-hander, and Jack Haynes held onto a sharp low chance at second slip away to his left.
Finch came close to another breakthrough when Michael Neser inside-edged a delivery down to the fine leg boundary.
The Australian completed a 64-ball half-century and put on 57 for the seventh wicket with Timm van der Gugten.
Worcestershire Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, ended the partnership when van der Gugten (19) went back to cut and was caught behind.
There was understandable joy for Finch when James Harris was undone by a delivery which bounced and left him and gave Roderick another catch.
Joe Leach wrapped up the innings when Neser (86) was caught by Taylor Cornall at point, and he had final figures of 3-55 in 19.4 overs.
Worcestershire openers Ed Pollock and Taylor Cornall survived one over before lunch on a pitch which had become a lot lighter in colour after drying out.
Pollock (9) collected a couple of early boundaries when play resumed but nicked through to keeper Chris Cooke when playing forward to van der Gugten.
He continued around the wicket to Cornall (4), who was trapped lbw.
Azhar Ali looked in good form, and his first five scoring shots were boundaries and added 27 with Jack Haynes (14), who pushed forward to Jamie McIlroy and adjudged leg before.
Adam Hose replicated the start to his innings of Azhar with his first scoring strokes, also all boundaries.
He dominated a half-century partnership with Azhar which came up in just 60 balls.
Hose had made 35 off 34 balls when he looked to cut McIlroy and chopped the ball onto his stumps for the second time in the game.
Van der Gugten returned to the attack, and D’Oliveira (2) pushed forward to a delivery which nipped off the seam and found the gloves of Cooke.
Azhar Ali made an accomplished 34 but was squared up and lbw to van der Gugten shortly before tea.
Roderick, who had top-scored in the first innings with 39, again looked in fine nick and received good support from Matthew Waite.
The seventh wicket duo batted sensibly, picking up singles and the occasional boundary, and ensured Glamorgan would have to bat again.
Their partnership spanned 23 overs and ensured Glamorgan would have to bat again.
They were relatively untroubled until Roderick, who made 36 from 82 balls with four boundaries, chopped on via the bottom edge to a delivery from Marnus Labuschagne.
Leach joined Roderick, and the pair added 11 runs before bad light ended play seven overs early.
