charlie morris completed his third five wicket haul of the campaign and openers hamish rutherford and daryl mitchell hit half centuries as worcestershire established a position of strength on day two of the specsavers county |championship match with glamorgan at New Road.
morris returned 5-73 from 17.5 overs as glamorgan were bowled out for 193 as worcestershire earned a first innings lead of 12.
there was still some encouragement for the bowlers when worcestershire batted for a second time.
but rutherford raced to a half century off only 51 balls and featured in an opening partnership of 70 with mitchell.
after rutherford’s dismissal, mitchell dug in for a typically defiant unbeaten fifty and, with good support from jack haynes, steered worcestershire to 153-2 by the close.
morris struck in successive overs after glamorgan resumed on 44-2 when west indian opener kraigg brathwaite (19) was caught behind and billy root (8) drove a wide delivery to cover.
samit patel (5), on loan from nottinghamshire, pulled a short ball from adam finch straight to deep backward square.
moeen ali held onto a sharp head high return catch offered by david lloyd (35) while captain chris cooke (24) fell victim to a low first slip catch by riki wessels off joe leach.
morris returned after lunch to bowl ruaidhri smith (18) and completed his five-for by having michael hogan (15) caught at deep fine leg while in between lukas carey (16) drilled moeen straight to cover.
rutherford (52) ensured worcestershire built on their narrow first innings advantage in quickfire fashion.
he reeled off a series of impressive drives and raced to a half century with nine boundaries.
the new zealander eventually edged smith to second slip but moeen kept the momentum going for the home side.
he swept patel for four and twice cover drove smith to the ropes.
but after making 26 the england all-rounder aimed a big shot through mid-wicket off patel and holed out to hogan at mid off.
mitchell was joined by haynes and they ensured worcestershire maintained the advantage during a patient stand so far worth 46 in 23 overs.
a four through the covers off smith took mitchell to a 143 ball fifty from 147 balls and he ended the day on 52 with haynes 22 not out.
