Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard picked up four wickets on the opening day of the Second Eleven's two-day friendly with hosts Loughborough MCCU today.
Steve Rhodes believes the The England Under-19 all-rounder, who is in his first full season at New Road, is capable of challenging for a first team spot this summer.
Barnard, who enjoyed a successful winter in Australia with Queanbeyan District, helped reduce Loughborough to 142-9 in their first innings.
But a last wicket stand of 90 between Sam Grant, with 55 off 42 balls, and Stuart Whittingham (28 not out) carried the students to 232 all out in 63.1 overs.
It was left to Barnard, who had taken the new ball in partnership with captain Chris Russell, to wrap up the innings when Grant was caught at long leg by substitute and strength and conditioning intern Liam Hopkins.
Barnard finished with 4-46 andAlex Hepburn was the other chief wicket-taker with a burst of 3-22 in six overs.
England Under-17 spinner Ben Twohig pulled off a superb one-handed catch at backward point to dismiss Lowen off Russell.
Worcestershire reached 50-2 off 19 overs by the close with opener Joe Clarke caught at point and Freddie Wynn falling at second slip for 17 and 14 respectively.
Loughborough MCCU first innings
Patel c Clarke b Tongue 24
Best c Hammond b Barnard 10
Lowen c Twohig b Russell 8
White lbw Barnard 10
Burgess b Barnard 28
Azad c Wynn b Hepburn 16
Prowse lbw Hepburn 5
Le-Breton c Rhodes b Twohig 4
Khan b Hepburn 5
Grant c sub (Hopkins) b Barnard 55
Whittingham not out 28
Extras 39
Total (all out) 232 in 63.1 overs
FOW: 21, 53, 53, 88, 105, 132, 133, 142, 142, 232.
Bowling: Russell 12-1-55-1, Barnard 13.1-3-46-4, Tyrrell 10-4-32-0, Tongue 13-4-27-2, Twohig 5-1-17-0, Hepburn 6-0-22-3, Rhodes 4-0-19-0.
Worcestershire first innings
Clarke c Prowse b Grant 17
Wynn c Burgess b Gamble 14
Rhodes not out 18
Hepburn not out 0
Extras 1
Total (for 2 wickets) 50 in 19 overs
FOW: 31, 45.
Bowling: Grant 1-22, Gamble 1-7.
