Tom Taylor and Amar Virdi both picked up two wickets as Worcestershire moved closer to guaranteeing Vitality County Championship Division One cricket for the 2025 season despite a challenging opening day against Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl.
Second from bottom Lancashire’s dismissal for 140 against Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford, and failing to secure any batting bonus points, reduced the total number of points needed by Worcestershire to maintain their Division One status from nine to four.
They picked up the first of those points although unbeaten centuries from Nick Gubbins and Liam Dawson meant Hampshire enjoyed the better of the opening day as they closed on 373-4 from 96 overs.
Taylor was again the pick of the pace bowlers and his two wickets with the new ball took his tally to 25 in just six appearances.
Virdi settled into another lengthy spell and delivered 32 overs on a used pitch already showing signs of taking some turn and he was rewarded with two wickets.
Worcestershire made two changes from the side which drew with Warwickshire at Visit Worcestershire New Road with Rob Jones and Joe Leach replacing Matthew Waite, who was suffering from a sickness bug, and Jack Home respectively.
Hampshire opted to bat after winning the toss but Taylor continued his excellent form by removing both openers in his first three overs.
Fletcha Middleton had not got off the mark when he survived a confident lbw shout by Leach in his first over.
But on six he pushed forward, was squared up and bowled by a superb delivery from Taylor which moved away.
Toby Albert edged Taylor for four but in the same over he pushed forward to a ball which nipped away and edged to Adam Hose at first slip.
It followed on from Taylor’s career best 6-28 against the Bears.
Gubbins was fortunate when an edge against Taylor flew past the slips to the ropes.
Taylor was rested after an opening spell of 6-1-25-2 with Leach coming back into the attack alongside Logan van Beek.
The third wicket pair of James Vince and Gubbins began to repair the innings after Taylor’s double strike and scored at around four an over although Gubbins, on 35, pulled van Beek just short of mid-wicket.
Virdi came into the attack for the first time at 78-2 after 20 overs and there were early signs of turn from a couple of deliveries to Gubbins before lunch.
Ethan Brookes also bowled a typically accurate spell as Hampshire reached 105-2 from 30 overs by the interval.
The partnership was worth 129 when Virdi made the breakthrough as Vince (57) attempted a sweep and was bowled although the umpires conferred before the Hampshire skipper departed from the middle.
Virdi settled into a lengthy spell and there was more joy for the spinner as Ben Brown (18) went back and attempted a dab shot but only feathered through to keeper Gareth Roderick.
Gubbins found it harder to force the pace during the afternoon session but the 200 came up in the 58th over.
Van Beek came back into the attack and Gubbins on 93 edged the New Zealander between Roderick and first slip for four.
He completed his third century of the campaign from 198 balls with a thick edge for four off Leach and the 250 came up in the same over – the 69th.
Virdi came close to a third wicket when Gubbins inside edged a delivery past Roderick for three but his fifth wicket partnership with Dawson flourished during the final session.
Worcestershire took the second new ball at 316-4 from 86 overs but did not make any more breakthroughs and Dawson completed his century from 135 balls shortly before the close.
Gubbins ended unbeaten on 153 and Dawson 102.
Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson said:
“It was a long one, and one which Hampshire will be pleased with. They batted very well and put some strong partnerships together.
“From us it wasn’t the skillsets that were required. I thought we were a bit sloppy which has made it a long day at the office.
“The wicket looks pretty good but there was certainly enough in it for the bowlers. We didn’t put it in the right areas for long enough.
“Dawson is in some good form and never looked in much trouble at all. That partnership with Gubbins – who I thought batted very well – has put us under quite a bit of pressure.
“I spoke about Liam before the game. He is a busy cricketer who knows his game really well and today he showed off his strengths.
“It is up to the bowlers and the fielders in the morning to take and create as many opportunities as we can.
“One thing we do know about this group of players is they are resilient and they won’t be too downbeat.”
