Henry Cullen struck his career best Second Eleven Championship score of 81 not out for Worcestershire on a rain-hit opening day against Lancashire at Kidderminster.
Cullen came in at 83-3 and steered Worcestershire to 235-7 from 66 overs by the close after hitting 12 fours in his 113 ball innings.
It surpassed his previous highest of 77 not out against Leicestershire at Barnt Green when he batted through the final day to earn a draw.
Academy product, Ed Bragg, was drafted into the side and gave Cullen excellent support in an unbroken partnership of 61 in just 12 overs.
Cullen gradually accelerated, taking 89 balls to bring up his half century and then contributing his next 31 runs off only 24 deliveries.
Worcestershire, looking to follow up last week’s innings win over Gloucestershire, were put into bat and gave a debut to triallist Joel Curtis.
Rehaan Edavalath has been in prolific form for the Academy and Seconds but on 16 he played at a widish delivery which bounced on him from Jack Blatherwick and was caught at first slip.
Josh Dell (20) nicked William Vause through to keeper George Bell but Curtis played positively in making 36 off 40 balls with seven fours.
He was dismissed when driving at Danny Lamb and holed out into the backward point region.
Lunch was taken at 103-3 and Olly Cox (21) fell in the second over after the resumption when Blatherwick returned to the attack and found the edge to Bell.
A brief stoppage for rain was followed by the loss of two quick wickets with Ismael Mohammed (7) and Josh Tongue (1) presenting Bell with his third and fourth catches off Lamb and Vause respectively.
A lengthy interruption for rain followed with Worcestershire 144-6 and when the players returned, Reeve Evitts became Bell’s fifth dismissal, off Lamb.
But Cullen batted responsibly, and found an ideal partnership in Bragg to take Worcestershire through to the close.
