Zen Malik scored a half century for Worcestershire Seconds who are facing a last day battle to stave off defeat in the Second Eleven Championship match with Durham Seconds at Stourbridge.
The Seconds closed a rain-shortened second day on 181-8 in their first innings – 269 behind the visitors first innings total of 450-8 declared.
Malik, who had scored a century in the four-day friendly against Warwickshire Seconds at Barnt Green, went to the wicket at 40-2 and added 50 for the fourth wicket with Ben Twohig (23).
He was eventually bowled for 57 by slow left armer Gurman Randhawa after hitting two sixes and seven fours in his 98 ball knock.
Worcestershire were then 145-8 but Charlie Morris and Alex Wilkinson added an unbroken 36 before play was halted for the day.
Former Yorkshire player Randhawa, who had taken eight wickets in the two T20 matches between the sides on Monday, finished with 3-46 from 20 overs and fellow slow left armer George Harding 3-46 from 14.1 overs.
Earlier, Worcestershire paceman Chris Russell had completed a second successive five wicket haul in Championship matches.
He followed up his 5-97 in the win over Northamptonshire Seconds at Kidderminster with 5-90.
Russell claimed the final three wickets before Durham declared this morning after resuming on 398-5.
DURHAM SECONDS – first innings
(overnight 398-5)
Weighell lbw Russell 67
Randhawa not out 19
Hart lbw Russell 20
Coughlin c Fell b Russell 1
Extras 27
Total (for 8 wickets) declared 450 in 92.1 overs
FOW continued: 405, 443, 450
BOWLING
Morris 23-1-98-0
Russell 22.1-3-90-5
Varley 9-1-45-0
Wilkinson 10-2-42-0
Twohig 19-1-104-2
Badger 9-0-58-1
————————————————————————————–
WORCESTERSHIRE SECONDS – first innings
Fell c Hickey b Coughlin 25
Westbury c Burnham b Sandhu 2
Coleman lbw Randhawa 12
Malik b Randhawa 57
Twohig c and b Randhawa 23
Varley lbw Harding 15
Dodd c Hickey b Harding 6
Russell c Braithwaite b Harding 0
Morris not out 19
Wilkinson not out 17
Extras 5
Total (for 8 wickets) 181 in 61.1 overs
FOW: 16, 40, 42, 92, 119, 141, 141, 145
BOWLING
Sandhu 12-3-37-1
Whiteoak 6-1-25-0
Randhawa 20-6-46-3
Coughlin 3-0-12-1
Hickey 6-2-13-0
Harding 14.1-4-46-3
