Day 2:

Worcestershire fought back well on the 2nd day to leave themselves in a good position going into the 3rd day. With Sussex on 16-0 at the start of the day's play Worcestershire dismissed the home side for 265 and reached 16-0 themselves by the close of play, an overall lead of 41 runs.

The start of the morning session was delayed by rain which meant the loss of 4 overs from the day's allocation. When play commenced the home side increased their overnight opening partnership to 57 before Gareth Andrew picked up the wicket of Ed Joyce, caught down the leg side to a diving catch by keeper Ben Scott for 27. Seven balls later Alan Richardson picked up the second wicket clean bowling Luke Wells playing a defensive shot for 0.

Bad light and light rain caused a further interruption just before lunch with the score on 66-2. Two further overs were lost from the day's play but the afternoon session started on time and Joe Gatting looked to carry on where he left off in the morning session. He passed his half century shortly after the resumption and was looking well set for a big score. Richardson picked up the key wicket finding the edge of Gatting's bat giving another catch to Scott. Gatting made 61 from 77 deliveries including 11 boundaries, which was to prove the top score in the home side's innings.

By tea the home side had reached 210-5, which was a bit of recovery by Sussex who had been 152-5 at one stage, due to a 5th wicket stand between Murray Goodwin and Kirk Wernars. The partnership was worth 61 before Goodwin was dismissed for 48 shortly after the resumption after the tea interval. It was a fighting innings by Goodwin lasting for 112 deliveries who might have been struggling with a hand injury picked up in an previous match. Saeed Ajmal picked up the wicket, caught at slip by Daryl Mitchell.

It proved to be the start of a excellent spell of spin bowling with Ajmal working well in combination with Moeen Ali who did a good job of restricting the flow of runs and taking wickets at regular intervals. Wernars made a useful 53 before being run out on a sharp single by an accurate throw by Alexei Kervezee.

Both spinners were economical, especially Ajmal who went for less than 1.7 runs per over finishing with figures of 2-44 from 26 overs. Moeen also went for less than 3 runs per over taking 3-43 in 17 overs. Sussex were eventually dismissed for 265 in exactly 90 overs giving the visitors a slender 1st innings lead of 25 runs.

By the close of play Worcestershire had reached 16-0 in 6 overs, which was exactly the same position Sussex were in at the start of the day's play.

Close of Play Day 2: Worcestershire 290 & 16-0 lead Sussex (265) by 41 runs with 10 second innings wickets remaining.