Worcestershire’s Matthew Waite reinforced the message that it is “all to play for” in his side’s riveting Rothesay County Championship clash against Middlesex, after producing a gritty middle-order knock to keep the Pears in touch heading into day three.
Waite (69) top scored for the hosts, registering a fourth Division Two half-century of the season, as the home side recovered from 80-5 to reach 265, trailing by 79 runs at stumps.
In a crucial sixth wicket partnership with Ethan Brookes that was worth 98, Waite played a leading role, punching a clinical counter offensive that dragged Worcestershire out of serious peril.
Not able to bowl due to a minor side issue, Waite said he was pleased to contribute for the team with the bat in hand, but also credited the lower order cameos of Beyers Swanepoel (34) and Tom Taylor (26) for helping Worcestershire to their final score.
“I felt a bit more pressure coming into this game as just a batter with me not bowling, going up the order I wanted to contribute as much as I could.
“It didn’t change my mindset too much, I just wanted to do my bit.
“I tried to bat the way I do normally, just keeping an eye out for the bad ball and take it on, so I was frustrated to get out the way I did because I probably should have gone and made a bigger score.
“We pride ourselves on that fight and the fact we bat all the way down, the lower order helped us get up to that score in the end.”
A committed effort with the ball saw Worcestershire battle hard for the entirety of the opening day and the first hour of the second morning to dismiss their opponents, with Middlesex eventually dismissed for 339.
With the Pears’ batters withstanding some testing spells from the likes of Toby Roland-Jones, Tom Helm and Sebastian Morgan, the contest between bat and ball has been nip and tuck throughout.
Heading into day three with a virtually brand new ball, the hosts’ seam quintet will be hoping to make some early inroads and open the game up once more.
Waite, says the onus is on the visitors to make progress, with the game hanging in the balance and his side poised to pounce on Sunday morning,
“The invariable bounce makes it challenging, but we bowled to good plans early so we will look to do that again tomorrow.
“The game can change really quickly, especially here at New Road, we have seen it before. So if we can come back in the morning and go bang bang then you never know.
“They are ahead so its on them to drive the game forward now.
“They’ll be a bit nervous up there tonight I think, it is all to play for tomorrow if we get a couple early.”
