Worcestershire’s Jake Libby and Adam Hose came together for an unbeaten 126 run-stand as Worcestershire enjoyed a dominant day of Rothesay County Championship cricket at Visit Worcestershire New Road against Hampshire, ending the day 187-2.
Tom Taylor (5-55) led from the front with another fine display, as the hosts bowled Hampshire out for 293, with Tom Prest anchoring the innings for the visitors.
That was all the away side could enjoy as they toiled in the afternoon sun, as Libby (70*) and Hose (82*) saw Worcestershire to the close trailing by just 107 runs.
After collecting two late wickets in successive overs last night, Worcestershire took to the field in high-spirits on day two, keen to seize the momentum that had been wrestled back.
It was the impressive Ben Allison who was the man to provide his side with the ideal start to the morning, when, in his first over he produced a virtually unplayable ball to the helpless Nick Gubbins, who trudged off without scoring after seeing the bail flicked off the top of his off-stump.
With nightwatchman Eddie Jack making his way through the opening hour unscathed, with his stubborn resistance giving the hosts plenty of food for thought as their search for another breakthrough continued.
It was the ever-reliable Tom Taylor who came up trumps for the hosts however, when he castled the dangerous Tilak Varma with a full, swinging delivery that the batter played all around, departing for five as Worcestershire checked Hampshire’s progress at 171-4.
As the sun appeared over Visit Worcestershire New Road, Khurram Shahzad and Adam Finch rotated for the home side without success, as Tom Prest guided a single down to third-man to bring up there Hampshire 200.
It was Adam Finch who reinvigorated his side after the late morning lull, with a energetic spell from the Diglis End of the ground that saw him remove both Eddie Jack for a stubborn 29, before returning in his next over to have Ben Brown caught behind.
With lunch delayed by 10 minutes to accommodate the extra overs lost from the opening day, Matthew Waite and Ethan Brookes were unable to penetrate any further into the Hampshire lineup, as a positive morning session for the Pears saw them take lunch with their opponents six-wickets down for 213.
It was the returning Waite who threatened earliest in the afternoon, when he had Tom Prest dropped by Jake Libby at gully, with the Hampshire man on 30.
The returning all-rounder didn’t have to wait long for his wicket however, when he snuck a ball through the defences of Felix Organ, who’s turgid knock of three from 46 balls was ended by the seamer, as Worcestershire continued to stall the away side.
The Hampshire 250 was raised in the 80th over, coinciding with the introduction of the new ball for the home side, which paid immediate dividends for Taylor as he removed Prest for 54.
Taylor’s superb campaign with the ball continued, as he dismissed Fuller and Baker (0) in quick succession on his way to innings figures of 5-55, taking his season total in the Rothesay County Championship to 42 in what has been a standout season for the 30-year-old.
Having wrapped up the visitor’s innings for 293, Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby started the reply in faultless fashion as they navigated their way to tea, 38-0 in the now idyllic batting conditions.
The pair continued in positive style, bringing up their fifty partnership for the second time in two innings, touching gloves in the 14th over as the Hampshire bowlers struggled in the sunshine.
Momentum was wrestled back by the visitors courtesy of two wickets in consecutive overs, shortly after the opening pair had registered their second successive fifty-partnership, when Eddie Jack caught the edge of Roderick, who departed for 26, and James Fuller forced Kashif Ali to chop onto his own stumps.
What ensued however, was as close to a perfect response as the hosts could have hoped for, as Libby came together with Adam Hose in fine fashion, batting with tempo and composure as they prospered in the sunshine.
Bringing up their side’s 100 in the 33rd over of the innings, the milestones kept coming Libby registered his fourth Rothesay County Championship fifty of the season, and Hose followed suit with a fifty of his own, as Worcestershire looked to end a fine day in total control.
As stumps were called shortly after 7pm, Worcestershire left the field in the driving seat at 187-2 with Libby (70*) and Hose (82*) and Hampshire’s bowling attack facing an uphill battle heading into the third day with a lead of just 107.
