Worcestershire Seconds fought back strongly with ball and then bat on the second day of the Second Eleven Championship clash with Northamptonshire at Milton Keynes.
Paceman Chris Russell's six wicket haul was largely responsible for Northants being dismissed for 287 – a lead of 145 – after resuming on 157-3.
Then unbeaten half centuries from George Rhodes and Joe Clarke steered Worcestershire by the close – a lead of 31 heading into the final day.
Russell finished with figures of 6-104 from 19 overs with Josh Tongue, Michael Hill, Rhodes and Alex Hepburn collecting one wicket apiece.
After Brett D'Oliveira was dismissed for 17, Rhodes figured in stands of 59 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (46) and an unbroken 76 with Clarke.
Northants first innings continued
Duckett c D'Oliveira b Russell 78
Murphy c Kohler-Cadmore b Tongue 62
Patel c and b Russell 6
White c Kohler-Cadmore b Russell 2
Young c D'Oliveira b Hepburn 43
Chambers c Clarkeb Russell 0
D Burton not out 23
T Burton c Russell b Rhodes 13
Extras 26
Total (all out) 287
FOW continued: 186, 188, 200, 201, 201, 268, 287.
Bowling
Russell 19-1-104-6
Tongue 14-3-31-1
Hill 9-2-32-1
Whiles 8-1-40-0
Choudhry 12-5-26-0
Rhodes 8.2-1-29-1
Hepburn 3-1-13-1
Worcestershire – second innings
Kohler-Cadmore lbw Chambers 46
D'Oliveira c Patel b Chambers 17
Rhodes not out 50
Clarke not out 51
Extras 12
Total (for 2 wickets) 176
FOW: 41, 100.
Bowling: Chambers 2-21.
