Daryl Mitchell scored the second double century of his LV = County Championship career as Worcestershire claimed four batting points on the second day of the clash with Hampshire at New Road.
The Worcestershire skipper reached the 200 run milestone with his 25th four – a cut against Hampshire spinner Danny Briggs.
It came off his 408th ball, spanned eight hours and 37 minutes and was scored out of 450-8 in the 136th over.
Mitchell's magnificent effort enabled Worcestershire to amass 478 all out in 141 overs by tea.
Then Worcestershire struck three early blows when Hampshire replied in dismissing Sean Terry, Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry as they reached 86-3 off 34 overs by the close.
Mitchell's ton was the 17th LV = CC hundred of his career – and fourth at New Road.
He was given magnificent support all the way down the batting order today from Ben Cox, Joe Leach, Jack Shantry and Saeed Ajmal in partnerships of 43, 123, 41 and 38 respectively.
It was the seventh time in 10 Championship matches this summer that Worcestershire have topped 300 in the first innings – and the third time they have gone past the 400 mark with this being the highest total of the season.
Mitchell resumed on 105 out of 228-5 with the new ball due after one over at the start of the second day and it was instantly taken by Gareth Berg and Jackson Bird.
Cox cover-drove Berg for four before rain caused a 24 minute delay although no loss of overs.
The 250 came up in the 90th over and the Mitchell-Cox stand was worth 43 before the latter had his middle stump knocked out by Brad Wheal after making 19.
Leach was quickly into his stride with two cover-drives for four at Bord's expense.
Mitchell also upped the tempo with cover-drives for four off Berg and Wheal and a similar shot from Leach at spinner Danny Briggs expense raised the 300 in the 100th over.
The seventh wicket pair continued to flourish after lunch and Leach went to his half century off 64 balls with his ninth boundary.
He was eventually caught at mid wicket off Briggs for 59 and the 123 stand with Mitchell spanned just 26 overs.
Shantry hit a quickfire 21 before he was stumped off Briggs before Mitchell went to his double hundred and received a standing ovation from his team-mates and supporters alike.
Ajmal also fell to the Wheater-Briggs combination after hitting 16 and the innings concluded when Charlie Morris (9) nicked through to Wheater off Bird who finished with 4-146 from 35 overs.
Morris gave Worcestershire the perfect start by having Terry (0) caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore at first slip in the first over of the innings.
Michael Carberry on five survived a chance off Leach but it became 44-2 when Adams was trapped lbw by the same bowler after he had swapped ends.
Carberry moved onto 36 but the introduction of Ajmal led to his downfall as the 11th delivery from the Pakistan spin wizard accounted for him leg before at 75-3.
