Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira struck his fourth successive half century to lead another splendid Worcestershire recovery on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship derby with Warwickshire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
D’Oliveira had gone to the wicket just over a week ago with Worcestershire 10-4 on the opening morning versus Essex at Chelmsford and his 68 helped his side rally to 266 all out on their way to an eventual memorable 43 run success.
That followed his 97 during the home win over Kent and for good measure he hit another 51 in the second innings against Essex.
Today his side stood on 67-4 when he walked out to the middle and was again the cornerstone of a fightback with the top score of 76.
D’Oliveira received excellent support from Adam Hose, fit again Matthew Waite and Logan van Beek in partnerships of 49, 76 and 43.
He was eventually dismissed for 76, seventh out with the total on 235.
D’Oliveira missed the entire Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign whilst having extensive rehab to a shoulder problem.
But the treatment paid handsome dividends for the 32-year-old who has been in prime form since the Championship programme recommenced.
Waite also made his mark with a fluent half century on his return to action after nearly two months out of action with a side strain.
Tom Taylor and Jack Home then ended the day with a flourish by adding an unbroken 52 as Worcestershire closed on 294-8 from 96 overs.
Worcestershire gave a Championship debut to young Academy pace bowler Home who last week signed a three-year contract after taking 16 wickets in five games in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Warwickshire made one change from the side which had defeated Kent with spinner Danny Briggs replacing Jacob Bethell who was on England duty.
Worcestershire were put into bat and Gareth Roderick off drove Olly Hannon-Dalby for the first boundary.
Jake Libby cut Chris Rushworth for four and then found the ropes with a handsome back foot cover drive at Hannon-Dalby’s expense.
But on 13 he pushed forward to a delivery from Hannon-Dalby which nipped away and was caught behind.
Kashif Ali, who had scored two centuries in the corresponding fixture at Edgbaston, looked in good nick and collected boundaries off each of the new ball pair.
But two wickets went down with the total on 45.
Kashif (16) provided keeper Michael Burgess with another catch off former Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard and Roderick (11) had his middle stump knocked back by Michael Rae.
Ethan Brookes (8) was promoted to number four and he was lbw to Hannon-Dalby on his return to the attack with a delivery which swung back in.
Hose and D’Oliveira battled through to lunch at 77-4 from 30 overs.
D’Oliveira pulled Rushworth for four to bring up the 100 in 39.3 overs.
The fifth wicket pair extended their partnership to 49 but Hose, having battled for nearly two hours for 33, drove at Barnard and was pouched at second slip
Waite was full of positive intent from the start, leg glancing Rae for four and on driving and off driving Barnard for two boundaries in an over.
He then turned Barnard off his legs for successive boundaries and scored his first 23 runs from just 20 deliveries.
Waite was the chief contributor with 34 of the runs in a half century partnership from just 69 balls with D’Oliveira.
He completed his own fifty from 71 balls with nine fours and by tea Worcestershire had moved on to 188-5 with D’Oliveira, after making another invaluable contribution, unbeaten on 44.
The afternoon session produced 111 runs from 34 overs for the loss of just one wicket.
But Waite (53) added only one more run before he was lbw to Rae after he switched ends to break a stand of 76.
D’Oliveira reached another excellent half century from 115 balls when he late cut Danny Briggs for his seventh boundary.
Van Beek was another staunch ally in a stand of 43 before D’Oliveira edged Will Rhodes and was caught at first slip by Yates low to his left.
He faced a total of 150 balls and hit 11 boundaries.
The second new ball accounted for van Beek with a third scalp for Hannon-Dalby thanks to Yates again showing a safe pair of hands, this time at second slip.
A single to Tom Taylor off Hannon-Dalby brought up the 250 and secured a batting bonus point for Worcestershire in the 87th over.
Taylor and Home both hit sixes in the closing overs of the day to take Worcestershire to within six runs of a second batting bonus point.
