
Worcestershire’s batters struggled in the face of a pinpoint Warwickshire bowling attack, as they were dismissed for 181 under gloomy conditions at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Jake Libby (45) and Kashif Ali (31) provided the most resistance, but Chris Rushworth and Chris Woakes showed their class, sharing seven wickets between them as they worked through the hosts’ middle-order, ensuring their side began their second innings with a 46-run lead.
Despite Jacob Duffy dismissing Alex Davies early in the reply, Rob Yates and Tom Latham navigated their way through the afternoon session, closing on 53-1.
As Day Two was brought to a premature end courtesy of bad light, the Pears have it all to do as they look to rescue some vital points from the match.
DAY TWO HIGHLIGHTS VS WARWICKSHIRE
Worcestershire entered the second day of their Rothesay County Championship fixture full of confidence after a near-perfect start to the match had put the hosts in the driving seat.
Resuming at 53-0, under gloomy conditions, the visitors seam bowling brigade began their examination of Jake Libby and Gareth Roderick.
Unfortunately for the hosts, the opening stand could only add 11 more to the overnight total, as Jake Libby failed to connect with a straight delivery from Chris Woakes, that left him LBW for a very well made 45.
Roderick, however, continued his positive approach, and played some immaculate cover drives, as the contest between bat and ball in challenging conditions remained fierce.
As the pressure built and the skies darkened, the Warwickshire bowlers began to get on top of proceedings, and soon made the inroads they had been searching for as four wickets fell for just eight runs in a rapid top order collapse.
First, it was Henry Nicholls who fell, as he nicked off to a rising delivery from Chris Woakes, for just eight.
Moments later and it was veteran Chris Rushworth’s turn to get in on the action, as he rolled back the years with a vintage spell, taking three quick wickets on his way to figures of 16-5-37-4.
Batting confidently to make his way to 24, Roderick was next to go when he edged a ball to Beau Webster at second slip, and the slump continued moments later as Rob Jones (0) became Rushworth’s next victim as he too feathered an edge behind, this time into the grateful gloves of keeper Alex Davies.
Searching for their first County Championship over Warwickshire since 2000, the Pears gave themselves a mountain to climb when the fifth wicket fell, as Captain Brett D’Oliveira, exited without scoring to leave Worcestershire in a real quandary at 91-5.
Kashif Ali and Ethan Brookes navigated the hosts through to lunch, not without another scare however, as Webster put down a chance when Brookes edged behind, as the closed with Worcestershire 115-5.
The impressive Woakes (3-34), registering his first appearance of the season since returning from injury, struck in the second over after the interval, as another testing delivery drew an edge from Brookes, to remove him for 12.
The shift in momentum had been nothing short of drastic, as the Pears found themselves in a precarious position.
Matthew Waite came together with Ali, with the Yorkshireman adding 12 before his dismissal via Rushworth, but it was his partner, Ali, who held the key for the home side, as his valiant 31 kept the hosts chipping away at the deficit despite losing regular wickets.
When Ali was caught by Webster off the bowling of returnee Ed Barnard, the score registered 151-8, bringing Tom Taylor to the crease with the knowledge any further runs for his side could prove crucial as the game entered the halfway stage.
When he was caught out for 10 off Webster’s bowling, those in Worcestershire colours started to calculate what sort of deficit they may be faced with at the close of the innings.
In a valiant display, Ben Allison (11) and Jacob Duffy (14*) scraped together some handy 10th wicket runs, but when Allison was skittled by the Australian Webster, Worcestershire’s innings came to a close at 181, trailing their rivals by 46 runs as an early tea was taken.
Upon the resumption, under even darker skies and rain looming large, the task in front of the Pears was a clear one – force an early breakthrough.
It another crucial session for the hosts, they got off to the perfect start as Jacob Duffy wheeled away in celebration when he castled Alex Davies, for just nine, with an angled delivery that beat the Bears batters’ loose drive to cannon into his off stump.
That was, however, the last cheer of the day for those in Worcestershire colours, as the next hour was guided through expertly by Rob Yates (17*) and Tom Latham (15*), before the players were taken from the field as bad light stopped play with a scheduled 20 overs remaining and Warwickshire 53-1, leading by 99 runs.
As the covers were brought onto the field, play was drawn to a close, with the gloomy skies that sat heavy over Visit Worcestershire New Road reflecting the dampened mood somewhat, as Worcestershire head into Day Three with an uphill battle.