Callum Lea hit an impressive unbeaten half century for Worcestershire Under-19s on an evenly balanced opening day against Northamptonshire Under-19s at Desborough Cricket Club.
Lea came to the wicket at 96-4 and hit an unbeaten 79 as Worcestershire recovered to 258 all out after electing to bat.
He hit 12 boundaries in his 147 ball innings and helped the last three wickets add 119 in partnerships of 45, 35 and 39 with Ryan Wheldon, Billy Cox and Dan Lloyd respectively.
Opener Adam Wiffen was the other main contributor with 47 before he was run out.
When Northamptonshire launched their reply, Billy Cox picked up and early wicket but they were well placed at 124-1.
Worcestershire responded by picking up three wickets in the closing stages of the day.
Adam Finch dismissed opener H. Sargent for 74 and then Wheldon bagged a brace of wickets as the home side ended on 138-4 – still 120 in arrears.
WORCESTERSHIRE UNDER-19S FIRST INNINGS
Herridge b Mohammed 14
Wiffen run out 47
N.Hammond b Home 18
Wilcox lbw Home 18
Johal b Mohammed 14
Lea not out 79
Green b Heathfield 14
Finch b Mohammed 0
Wheldon lbw Rogers 12
Cox c Heathfield b Rogers 18
Lloyd c Adair b Rogers 18
Extras 27
Total (all out) 258 in 75.4 overs
FOW: 19, 74, 88, 96, 128, 137, 139, 184, 219, 258
BOWLING: Mohammed 3-34, Rogers 3-43, Home 2-33, Heathfield 1-42
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE UNDER-19S FIRST INNINGS
Home lbw Cox 13
Sargent c Herridge b Finch 74
Adair c Wilcox b Wheldon 34
Rogers lbw Wheldon 5
Claydon not out 9
Thomas not out 0
Extras 3
Total (for 4 wickets) 138 in 35 overs
FOW: 18, 124, 129, 138
BOWLING
Cox 7-4-3-1
Wheldon 8-0-48-2
Finch 9-1-31-1
Lloyd 6-1-29-0
Johal 5-0-25-0
