Worcestershire Seconds are facing a challenging final day in their Championship match with Lancashire Seconds at Southport after losing three early wickets in pursuit of a 340 target.
The visitors fought back strongly in their first innings to reach 226 all out after being 110-6 overnight – a deficit of only 33 – with keeper Callum Dickinson top-scoring with 69.
But Lancashire scored rapidly to make 306-5 before declaring in their second innings and then Worcestershire ended the second day on 56-3.
After the early departure of Ben Twohig, Dickinson shared in stands of 45 with Josh Tongue (18) and 56 with Chris Russell who finished unbeaten on 37 with two sixes and three fours.
Dickinson's 101 ball knock contained one six and 11 fours before he was ninth out.
Lancashire opener Luis Reece led his side's quest for quick runs with 103 off 152 deliveries with a six and 10 boundaries and added 115 for the third wicket with Liam Livingstone.
Some late hitting by Rob Jones (40) and then Josh Bohannon – 49 not out off 31 balls – and Danny Lamb – 28 not out off 13 balls – hastened Lancashire to their declaration.
Spinner Shaaiq Choudhry was absent from the Worcestershire attack with a side strain suffered on the opening day.
Worcestershire batsmen George Rhodes, Alex Gidman and then Alex Hepburn were dismissed before the close.
Worcestershire Seconds – first innings continued
(ovenight 110-6)
Dickinson c Kerrigan b Edwards 69
Twohig c Edwards b Kerrigan 8
Tongue c Procter b Kerrigan 18
Russell not out 37
Whiles b Livingstone 0
Extras 16
Total (all out) 226 in 58.2 overs
FOW continued: 124, 169, 225, 226
Bowling: Kerrigan 3-57, Lamb 2-27, Procter 2-40, Livingstone 1-12, Edwards 1-19.
Lancashire Seconds – second innings
Reece c Hepburn b Russell 103
Dearden c Hepburn b Russell 1
Procter c Hammond b Twohig 6
Livingstone c Russell b Hepburn 71
Jones run out 40
Bohannon not out 49
Lamb not out 28
Extras 8
Total (for 5 wickets declared) 306
FOW: 10, 29, 144, 210, 253
Bowling
Twohig 14-0-81-1
Russell 9-4-46-2
Tongue 6-2-12-0
Rhodes 8-0-44-0
Whiles 6-0-67-0
Hepburn 9-1-26-1
Kervezee 4-1-22-0
Worcestershire Seconds – second innings
Rhodes lbw Edwards 13
Hepburn b Kerrigan 12
Gidman c Houghton b Edwards 1
Kervezee not out 22
Tongue not out 4
Extras 4
Total (for 3 wickets) 56 in 20 overs
FOW: 19, 25, 47
Bowling: Edwards 2-17, Kerrigan 1-14
