Olly Cox top-scored with 82 as Worcestershire Academy hit back strongly with the bat on day two of the ECB County Championship Group Two encounter with Northamptonshire at Kidderminster.
Cox struck one six and 16 fours in his 107-ball knock as Worcestershire amassed 300-5 declared in reply to Northamptonshire’s 368 all out.
He put on 80 for the third wicket in just 17 overs with all-rounder Reeve Evitts before being fourth out at 159.
Evitts went onto make 65 not out from 106 deliveries with nine boundaries.
Keeper Luke Powell – 52 not out from 76 balls with eight fours – joined forces with Evitts at 206-5 and added an unbroken 94 before the declaration.
Northamptonshire reached 120-3 from 29.2 overs in their second innings to extend their overall lead to 188 heading into the final day.
Jack Warner, who picked up five wickets in the first innings, Harry Darley and Evitts had one scalp apiece.
