Worcestershire pace bowler, Josh Tongue, relished being able to demonstrate his abilities with the bat for the second successive game on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship game with Middlesex at New Road.
Tongue had struck a career-best 45 not out during last week’s innings victory over leaders Nottinghamshire.
He followed that up by scoring an unbeaten 39 on a challenging pitch to steer Worcestershire from their overnight 167-8 to 225 all out and collect a batting bonus point.
Tongue also produced a fine delivery to dismiss England opener, Mark Stoneman, as Middlesex closed on 146-2 on a day shortened considerably by rain and bad light.
He said: “I’ve always enjoyed batting, so to get out in the middle with my pads on and spend some time there is quite nice.
“It is a long batting line-up, and everyone wants to do well, and all have got important runs from time to time.
“We’ve got a little chart up there in the changing room, and you just want to be the best batter of the bowlers.”
Tongue was given excellent support by Dillon Pennington during a ninth-wicket stand of 45.
He said: “The old ball was still doing a tiny bit, and we tried to get as many runs as we could before the new ball.
“That was the best choice for us as tail-enders.”
Pennington then struck in the first over of the Middlesex innings to dismiss another England opener in Sam Robson.
Tongue said: “We knew if we put the ball in the right areas, we were going to get our rewards.
“Dillon has had an unbelievable season, so I was not surprised he got a wicket so early, especially in the first over. To take a wicket before lunch was crucial.
“But I don’t think we stacked enough balls in the right areas. Obviously, the pitch was doing quite a lot for the bowlers.
“The length was crucial on this sort of wicket, and they left fairly well. We had to get the right length to get your rewards.
“Tomorrow, if we take two or three wickets early on, then we are back into the game.”
