A resolute performance dragged Worcestershire back into contention on Day One of the Rothesay County Championship fixture at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
After some early pressure from the visitor’s attack, Kashif Ali and Rob Jones provided the most resistance, with the latter producing a gritty half-century, as he led the fightback from 123-5.
The loss of regular wickets thwarted any momentum throughout the afternoon, until a crucial eighth-wicket partnership of 95 between Matthew Waite and Tom Taylor changed the context of the day late on.
Waite’s magnificent 73 drove the home side into a healthy position heading into Day Two, as they reached 354-9 at the close of play.
After losing the toss and being invited to bat first, the Pears announced two team changes as Yadvinder Singh and Rob Jones were included in the XI, in place of Fateh Singh and Ben Gibbon.
With Visit Worcestershire New Road bathed in sunlight, picturesque conditions greeted openers Jake Libby and Gareth Roderick, with the latter wasting no time getting into the groove caressing his second delivery of the match through cover for four.
Reaching 30 without loss, things were beginning to take shape for the hosts as they built a platform, but the picture soon changed as Roderick was trapped LBW by Shane Snater, before Henry Nicholls was caught behind without scoring, trying to leave a Kasun Rajitha delivery that rose sharply, having been dropped just two balls prior.
On a wicket tinged with green that kept the bowlers interested throughout the morning session, it was the visiting side’s seam attack that continued their line of questioning with Jake Libby given a stern test of his defensive credentials, courtesy of the unrelenting Essex seam quartet of Porter, Snater, Thain and Rajitha.
Libby and partner Kashif Ali were at the crease in the 20th over when the hosts brought up their 50, moments before Libby pushed at an enticing delivery from 20-year-old prospect Noah Thain, that caught his edge and reduced the Pears to 58-3.
Worcestershire found themselves in an all too familiar position when Rob Jones entered the fray, with the knowledge another wicket before the interval would mount further pressure on an innings in the balance.
Although watchful, new man Jones and the now confident Kashif Ali pounced on any loose deliveries from the visitors, ensuring that the boundary was accessed regularly, taking their side safely to 84-3 by the time the umpires called lunch.
Having registered two 50’s already this campaign, Ali looked the most comfortable of the Worcestershire batters in the middle, and as play entered the afternoon session he began to show signs of returning with some gorgeous drives down the ground to push his side beyond the 100 run mark.
The middle order stability soon perished however, when Ali was left helpless as a Snater delivery in the 40th over stayed low and castled his off stump, forcing the home side’s main hope to walk off four short of a well-deserved half-century.
The combination of a slow outfield and a pitch offering just enough to perk their interests, the Essex attack rotated to take wickets at regular intervals.
When Brett D’Oliveira fell shortly afterwards for just two, Worcestershire were firmly up against it with the scoreboard reading 139/5 and Simon Harmer introducing himself to the visitors attack from the New Road End.
Ethan Brookes strode out to join Jones and wasted no time getting settled in – playing an important and enterprising counter-attacking innings under pressure, showing his full-array of shots in a vital lower-order cameo for his side.
With the Essex bowlers enjoying some time with their tails up, everyone wanted a piece of the action, and it was Porter who struck next when he had Brookes caught behind off his bowling for a very well made 31.
In spite of wickets falling around him, Rob Jones anchored the innings in a composed manner and brought up a gritty half-century off 107 balls he punched a straight drive to the boundary.
Shortly before tea however, Jones’ resistance broke as he mis-timed a pull shot straight to Robin Das at deep square-leg, handing Thain his second wicket of the day, and the visitors the upper hand in the contest after two sessions.
What proceeded however, was a priceless lesson in patience and determination, as Matthew Waite and Tom Taylor came together for a potentially match-defining partnership.
Waite (73) and Taylor (43) added 95 for the seventh-wicket, as they batted in unison for 22 overs with superb temperament to frustrate the visitors bowling attack and collect two batting points in the process.
When Taylor was eventually dismissed, the score read 287-8, a total that had seemed a long way in the distance a few hours earlier in the day.
When Ben Allison came to the crease inside the last hour of the day’s play, Waite had brought up a fine half-century of his own. As the sun set behind the New Road End, Waite was dismissed by Critchley for 73, leaving Allison and Yadvinder Singh to see out the final few overs with the scoreboard making for healthy reading at 354-9 at the close.
