Worcestershire Seconds fought back with four late wickets on the opening day of the Second Eleven Championhip clash with Lancashire Seconds at Ombersley.
The home side were dismissed for 157 in 42.3 overs after electing to bat and Lancashire reached 178-2 in reply thanks mainly to an unbeaten century from Andrea Agathangelou.
But the bowlers stuck to their task and Brett D'Oliveira enjoyed a double success as the Red Rose county closed on 202-6 from 59 overs.
The leg spinner had also chipped in with a useful unbeaten 23 off 18 balls in alast wicket stand of 31 with Nick Harrison at the conclusion of the Worcestershire innings.
The other main parternship was of 42 for the fifth wicket between Ed Barnard (19) and Shaaiq Choudhry who battled for nearly two and a half hours and 91 balls for his 24.
Worcestershire were also aided by a total of 43 extras including 26 no balls.
Agathangelou finished unbeaten on 102 from 164 balls with two sixes and 14 fours and shared in stands of 63 with Alex Davies and 94 with Karl Brown for the second and third wickets.
But the late flurry of wickets means the visitors lead by just 45 with four wickets remaining and Worcestershire will be looking to start the way they finished on the second day.
Worcestershire: Pardoe lbw Bailey 20, Hepburn c Brown b Newby 0, Choudhry c Agathangelou b Bailey 24, Whiteley lbw Newby 1, Clarke v Agathangelou b White 18, Baranrd c Davies b Newby 19, Andrew c Agathangelou b White 2, D'Oliveira not out 23, Rhodes c Davies b Bailey 1, Cessford c Lilley b Bailey 0, Harrison c Parry b Bailey 6. Extras 43. Total 157 all out (42.3 overs).
Bowling: Bailey 5-67, Newby 3-29, White 2-16.
FOW: 12, 38, 39, 69, 111, 116, 118, 124, 126, 157.
Lancashire: Reece b Cessford 19, Davies c D'Oliveira b Harrison 29, Agathangelou not out 102, Brown c Andrew b D'Oliveira 33, Procter c Andrew b D'Oliveira 1, White c Hepburn b Rhodes 1, Livingstone run out 5, Parry not out 0. Extras 12. Total 202-6 (59 overs).
Bowling: Whiles 10-3-33-0, Cessford 7-2-33-1, Harrison 8-2-34-1, Whiteley 6-1-22-0, D'Oliveira 17-5-40-2, Choudhry 6-0-26-0, Rhodes 5-1-9-1.
FOW: 21, 84, 178, 186, 187, 198.
