Jake Libby defied the Surrey attack for more than three hours as Worcestershire faced another challenging day against Surrey in the Vitality County Championship encounter at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
The opening batter got his head down and battled away against the leaders challenging attack in making a 145 ball half century.
It was a typically determined effort from Libby on a day where they suffered another injury blow with pace bowler Adam Finch ruled out with a leg injury.
But he received little lengthy support as Worcestershire were restricted to 147-7 in reply to Surrey’s 490 although Ben Allison (19 not out) helped him add an unbroken 45.
Academy player Chris Ellison deputised in the field for Finch who became the fourth member of the pace attack to be injured after the already side-lined Joe Leach, Ben Gibbon and Yadvinder Singh plus Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira.
Tom Taylor struck in the first over of the day after Surrey had resumed on 340-5.
Jordan Clark added only a single before he played back and picked out loanee Shoaib Bashir at mid wicket.
Dan Lawrence, who had resumed on 91, completed his 143 ball century in regal style with a cover drive for his 14th boundary.
Sean Abbott showed plenty of aggression in the chase for a fourth batting point but he paid the price after giving Taylor the charge and was bowled to give the all-rounder his third wicket.
Gus Atkinson tried to work Shoaib Bashir to leg and was bowled to give the on loan England spinner his second wicket.
James Taylor was run out by his brother James after playing Bashir to third man and attempting a second run.
Lawrence went on the attack after lunch and Shoaib Bashir conceded 38 runs in an over.
His knock ended on 175 when he was caught at deep backward point to give Ben Allison a deserved second wicket.
Taylor ended with figures of 24-4-99-3, Allison 26.1-8-55-2, Finch 18-2-82-2 and Bashir 38-2-162-2.
When Worcestershire batted, Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby showed positive intent in putting on 30 in 11 overs.
Sean Abbott struck with his first delivery after replacing Dan Worrall when Roderick (16) was caught behind from a delivery which nipped away.
Kashif Ali, back in the side after his break from the game, made 17 before being strangled down the leg side off Atkinson at 59-2.
Rob Jones (9) was undone by a delivery of extra bounce by James Taylor to give Foakes his third catch.
Foakes held onto another chance after Hose (10) aimed a drive at Taylor and Ethan Brookes (5), in his first Championship match for three years, fell to a sharp catch at first slip by Ollie Pope off Clark at 99-5.
Matthew Waite (3) played back to Lawrence and was bowled and Tom Taylor (0) was dismissed in similar fashion.
Jake Libby said: “It was a long, tough day. Dan Lawrence’s innings there was sensational and they kept coming at us with bat and ball.
“I thought we did really well on day one and it was disappointing not to back it up today. The game kind of got away from us if we are being honest.
“Again with the bat there, we’ve got to be disappointed but you’ve got to point out they are a very strong side.
“We controlled them and the rate very nicely this morning but that over (with 38) was like a flick of the switch.
“Some of the ball striking was fantastic and it was hard to keep tabs on him. It was a fantastic innings.
“We were flat in the changing room after that first innings. We got off to a decent start with the bat and started quite positively.
“We were 60-1 and lost a big clump of wickets and the boys are disappointed up there. The pitch is generally a good pitch.”
