Oli Westbury scored his maiden century for Worcestershire Seconds who are in a powerful position ahead of the final day of the Second Eleven Championship match with Nottinghamshire Seconds at Notts Sports Club.
The Academy player, who plays for Himley and hails from Shrewsbury School, ended the day unbeaten on 104 from 157 balls with 10 fours.
His efforts helped Worcestershire to close on 240-5 in their second innings and with an overall lead of 347.
Notts resumed on 41-5 off 18 in sunshine with the promise of heavy showers to come.
In the 11th over of the day Ed Barnard removed Adam Tillcock’s leg stump and two balls later he trapped Dominic Brown lbw to complete a five-for after his 90 not out in the first innings.
Alex Hepburn sent Connor Marshall’s stump cartwheeling down the ground in the next over, from the first ball he faced to leave Notts reeling on 82- 8 off 30 overs.
Will Gidman and wicket keeper Tom Keast dug in for five overs until Hepburn caught Keast at second slip just as the heavens opened at 89-9 and resulted in the loss of seven overs.
Gidman and Simon Webster settled in for a stubborn last man stand of 38 in 13 overs after lunch until the return of Barnard who had Webster caught behind off his second ball to finish with 6-30 as Notts bowled out for 127.
It gave Worcestershire a lead of 107 with 66 overs left to bat in the day.
Hepburn was caught at second slip in the second over but Alexei Kervezee and George Rhodes steadied matters with a stand of 41 for the second wicket.
After Kervezee was trapped lbw for 25, Gidman and Chris Woakes were removed from the bowling attack allowing Rhodes and new batsman Westbury to score more freely.
Boundaries from this pair soon brought up the 50 and at tea they looked settled on 27 and 20 respectively with the total on 86-2.
The first over after tea was eventful with the opening bowlers returning but Gidman lasting just three balls before pulling up in his bowling stride and leaving the field for the next hour and a half.
A single off the next ball, bowled by replacement bowler Tillcock, brought up Rhodes and Westbury’s 50 partnership – and then Rhodes hit a six over mid on off the last ball of the over.
Five overs later the 100 was brought up by Westbury with a four backward of square leg, as the pair continued to dominate.
They didn’t quite reach the 100 partnership when Rhodes was caught behind for 48 in the 16th over after tea and a stand of 97.
Westbury went on to make his half century from 100 balls in the 45th over, batting with Ross Whiteley who was unfortunate to drag the ball back onto his stumps and be bowled for 14.
Barnard was caught at gulley for 22 off 24 deliveries but Westbury remained rock solid at the other end throughout and ended the day unbeaten.
Nottinghamshire – first innings
Dal b Barnard 1 Libby b Smith 1
Root c Dickinson b Barnard 0
Gidman not out 57
Woakes c Dickinson b Barnard 0
Moores lbw Whiteley 16
Tilcock b Barnard 11
Brown lbw Barnard 0
Marshall b Hepburn 0
Keast c Hepburn b Whiteley 3
Webster c Dickinson b Barnard 9
Extras 29
Total (all out) 127 in 48.2 overs
FOW: 2, 2, 5, 5, 37, 81, 81, 82, 89, 127
Bowling
Barnard 14.2-5-31-6
Smith 8-1-24-1
Hepburn 14-4-28-1
Whiteley 10-3-18-2
Rhodes 1-1-0-0
Twohig 1-0-3-0
Worcestershire Seconds – second innings
Hepburn c Kitt b Woakes 1
Rhodes c Keast b Webster 48
Kervezee lbw Webster 25
Westbury not out 104
Whiteley b Root 2
Barnard c Gidman b Root 22
Dickinson not out 8
Extras 18
Total (for 5 wickets) 240 in 64 overs
FOW: 1, 37, 134, 179, 223
Bowling: Woakes 1-22, Webster 2-56, Root 2-48
