Worcestershire Seconds went down by five wickets to Warwickshire Seconds in their opening Championship match of the campaign at Portland Road.
But both sides deserve great credit for breathing life back into a game which had seemed destined for a tame draw after a rain-affected opening two days.
Worcestershire resumed overnight on 211-5 with George Rhodes unbeaten on 91 and Ben Twohig 51 not out.
The visitors were ‘fed’ 129 runs in just 13.5 overs from the very occasional bowling of wicket-keeper Alex Mellor and Ed Pollock.
Twohig added only five more to his tally but Rhodes, having accumulated his runs yesterday against ‘proper’ bowling, took advantage to finish unbeaten on 151.
His 225 ball knock contained four sixes and 15 fours.
Dillon Pennington also cashed in and made 63 not out from 45 balls with five sixes and four fours before the declaration at 340-6.
Both sides then forfeited an innings and Warwickshire were left a total of 341 in 80 overs by Worcestershire skipper Ollie Westbury.
Paceman Pat Brown gave Worcestershire a fine start by dismissing Andy Umeed for a duck with the second ball of the innings.
Then triallist Grant Thornton broke a stand of 96 between Liam Banks (52) and Pollock (46) by dismissing both in the space of four overs to leave Warwickshire on 117-3.
Adam Hose then took charge for Warwickshire and hit an unbeaten 153 not out from 159 balls with six sixes and 14 fours.
Hose added 122 for the fourth wicket with Alex Thomson (44) before the latter was caught behind off Pennington.
Brown returned to the attack to claim a second success – Aaron Thomason for 11 at 287-5.
But that was Worcestershire’s last breakthrough as Hose and Mellor saw their side to victory with eight overs to spare.
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WORCESTERSHIRE SECONDS – FIRST INNINGS CONTINUED
(overnight 211-5)
Rhodes not out 152
Twohig c Rankin b Mellor 56
Pennington not out 63
Extras 27
Total (for 6 wickets declared) 340 in 75.3 overs
FOW continued: 220
BOWLING
Hannon-Dalby 17-5-35-2
Thomason 14-0-51-1
Rankin 12-0-43-2
Sheikh 9-0-31-0
Poysden 6-0-33-0
Singh 4-0-13-0
Pollock 7-0-67-0
Banks 6.3-0-62-1
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WARWICKSHIRE SECONDS – FIRST INNINGS FORFEITED
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WORCESTERSHIRE SECONDS – SECOND INNINGS FOREFEITED
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WARWICKSHIRE SECONDS – SECOND INNINGS
Umeed c Thornton b Brown 0
Banks lbw Thornton 52
Pollock c Whiteley b Thornton 46
Hose not out 153
Thomson c Coates b Pennington 44
Thomason c Dell b Brown 11
Mellor not out 15
Extras 23
Total (for 5 wickets) 344 in 72 overs
FOW: 0, 96, 117, 239, 287
BOWLING
Brown 16-2-94-2
Pennington 15-5-50-1
Whiteley 6-1-28-0
Thornton 14-2-64-2
Twohig 13-2-45-0
Rhodes 5-0-18-0
Malik 3-0-23-0
