Worcestershire Seconds were involved in a thrilling last-ball finish against Northamptonshire before being edged out by one wicket in a Second Eleven Championship match at the County Ground, Northampton.
A see-saw day came to a dramatic climax after Worcestershire captain Gareth Roderick set the home side a challenging 303 target in 72 overs.
Northamptonshire reached 102-0 and 158-1, then lost four wickets for 20 runs in reaching 178-5, and then wickets fell at regular intervals, including four for leg spinner Josh Dickenson in his best figures for the Seconds.
Either side could have won when Ben Parker bowled the final delivery with Northamptonshire standing on 298-9, but the experienced Nathan Buck took a stride outside his off stump and hit Ben parker for six over mid-wicket.
Worcestershire picked up six points and played their full part in a splendid final day’s entertainment, although that will not initially be much consolation.
But it was another great learning experience for the younger players in the squad alongside other occasions such as Sunday’s Graham Williamson Trophy final featuring the Academy.
Worcestershire resumed on 154-6, and two triallists, Kashif Ali and Roshan Balaji, both made important contributions.
Kashif followed up his first innings 80 by making 74 off 113 balls with seven fours in a stand of 55 with Roshan.
Roshan went on to make an unbeaten 54 from 91 balls with two sixes and three fours before Roderick’s declaration at 227-7 from 59 overs.
First innings century-maker Ben Curran and James Cronie gave the home side a flying start with a stand of 102 in 23.1 overs.
But Cronie (48) was run out by Dickenson’s throw to the non-striker’s end following a mix-up after Curran played Kashif onto the on side.
Curran looked set for another hundred until on 85 he played forward to Dickenson, and Tom Fell held onto a sharp chance at first slip.
It started a run of wickets with Charlie Thurston (2) cutting Mitchell Stanley to short third man, James Sales (4) caught at cover off Dickenson, and Oliver Jeffries (23) caught behind driving at Roshan.
Dickenson sent back Aadi Sharma (21) and Harry Gouldstone (48), and then Brandon Glover (13) and Alex Russell (5) were bowled by Parker and Cameron Jones, respectively, before the finale.
Dickenson ended with figures of 19-0-77-4, Parker 14-1-69-1, Roshan 12-1-47-1, Stanley 10-0-36-1 and Jones 10-1-43-1.
