Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell was delighted to complete his first Specsavers County Championship hundred of the campaign against Northamptonshire – and is hoping the two sides can conjure up a positive finish on the final day.
Mitchell went to three figures off 164 balls via his 16th boundary – an edge for four off Ben Sanderson.
In a day hit severely by rain and bad light, Worcestershire advanced from 153-1 to 193-3 – still 358 behind the visitors.
Mitchell said: "It is nice to contribute a major innings in red ball cricket. Obviously I haven't got the runs I would have liked so to get over that line means a lot to me.
"I gave them a chance of getting me out didn't I! – but fortunately it (the edge) went through the slip cordon for four.
"The season has been a bit stop start for me, three or four 50s and quite a lot of 30s and 40s, a lot of starts.
"It's been disappointing. I've found various ways to get out, caught in the ring and run-outs and things like that.
"Eventually it has to turn, and I've kept working hard, and I got my rewards today and a bit of luck today.
"It was very much a different wicket today, with the overhead conditions. It zipped around a bit and the ball seemed to go through quicker as well as the seam movement.
"But we stood our ground in the small amount of play possible. The sun is supposed to shine tomorrow so hopefully it will flatten out again."
Mitchell is hoping his Northants counterpart Alex Wakely will be in favour of trying to conjure up a last day result.
He said: "Will there be any collusion? I don't know yet but we hope so. We're always keen to play a game of cricket and try and get a positive result.
"We are still holding hope of that promotion spot. Essex have won again today so we desperately need a win. I'll be trying to talk Alex into coming up with some sort of game."
