Triallist Sam Perry made an impressive debut for Worcestershire Seconds on the opening day of their final Championship match of the season against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Perry, who has played National Counties cricket alongside Worcestershire left armer Ben Gibbon, top-scored with an unbeaten 70.
He came to the wicket at 96-2 and had steered Worcestershire to 244-7 from 96 overs by the close after they had been put into bat.
Perry, 23, struck six boundaries in his 173 ball innings which spanned more than three and a half hours.
He put on 55 for the fifth wicket with Olly Cox but, after reaching 214-4,
Worcestershire lost three late wickets to leave the game evenly poised.
Opener Rehaan Edavalath (9) was caught in the gulley off Jack Campbell but then Josh Dell and captain, Taylor Cornall, added 67 for the second wicket.
Cornall made 36 off 112 balls before he was lbw to Brad Wheal and then Dell, whose 58 included 10 boundaries, was caught off John Turner.
Henry Cullen, who achieved a Championship best 81 not out in last week’s game against Lancashire, pulled Campbell into the hands of deep square leg when on 26.
A single off Nick Gubbins enabled Perry to complete a 122 ball half century.
But Cox (25) pushed forward to spinner Felix Organ and was bowled and then Ismail Mohammed (1) and Ed Bragg (5) fell cheaply in the closing part of the day.
