Worcestershire batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell one run short of his maiden first class century on the third day of the LV = County Championship clash with Leicestershire at New Road.
Kohler-Cadmore had batted superbly and showed what an exciting prospect he is for the county in featuring in century stands with Alexei Kervezee and Joe Leach.
He sailed to the brink of his hundred with successive straight sixes off Dan Redfern in moving onto 99.
The 19-year-old remained on that figure for the next seven balls before being bowled by Redfern aiming a pull through mid wicket.
One could understand Kohler-Cadmore's disappointment as he trooped back to the pavilion but he received a standing ovation from the members and his team-mates on the dressing room balcony.
It will surely be only a matter of time before the former Malvern College pupil reaches three figures given the evidence of his performances in the past few weeks since returning to the first team.
Runs flowed at a rapid pace throughout the day as the county sought to manouvere a position to be able to declare.
Kohler-Cadmore and Kervezee joined forces after Worcestershire lost their third wicket to the fifth ball of the day from Nathan Buck when Richard Oliver (37) was bowled off the bottom edge from an attempted pull.
Worcestershire were then 50-3 – an overall lead of 91 – and with plenty of work ahead to set up a potentially match-winning situation.
But Kervezee and Kohler-Cadmore responded by reeling off a succession of handsome boundaries.
Kervezee had been his side's saviour on a green pitch at Grace Road three weeks ago when he scored a century which he followed up with a second innings half century.
The Dutch international was again in excellent form as he brought up his 50 off 99 balls with nine fours.
Kervezee was particularly severe on Buck in pulling, driving and cutting the bowler for three boundaries in one over.
He had one slice of good fortune when on 23 when he edged Rob Taylor, who had replaced Buck, in between wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien and first slip Jigar Naik for four.
Kohler-Cadmore, who had scored his maiden Championship 50 at Grace Road, produced a series of fine on and off drives for boundaries.
The 100 partnership between the pair came up in just 25 overs and they extended the overall lead past 200 in the 44th over of the innings.
By lunch Worcestershire had moved onto 173-3 off 49 overs with Kervezee unbeaten on 69 and Kohler-Cadmore 56 – a lead of 214.
Charlie Shreck returned to the attack after lunch and picked up two wickets in successive overs.
The Kervezee-Kohler-Cadmore stand was worth 131 in 36 overs when the former on 75 was caught at deep mid off by Josh Cobb.
His 144 ball knock contained one six and 10 fours.
Ben Cox was adjudged lbw in Shreck's next over for a single with the total 187-5.
But then Leach joined Kohler-Cadmore and the pair plundered 100 of only 17 overs.
Leach was in a particularly aggressive vein and he pulled Shreck for six and straight drove James Sykes over the ropes and his 50 came up off only 43 balls.
After Kohler-Cadmore's dismissal, Leach hit a third six over long on off Sykes but was caught at slip off the next ball for 74 off 64 deliveries with 3 three sixes and 10 fours.
Shaaiq Choudhry hit a quick 25 before driving Sykes to short cover as Worcestershire reached 348-8 by tea – a lead of 389.