Day 2:

Worcestershire enjoyed a good morning session on the second day of the Championship match at New Road against Warwickshire. By lunch they had reached 246-4, an first innings lead of 45.

The session started well with Solanki looking in fine touch continuing his overnight partnership with Moeen Ali. The 3rd wicket stand of 98 was broken when Solanki edged a catch to keeper Richard Johnson off the bowling of Boyd Rankin for 44.

Alexei Kervezee was the only other wicket to fall in the morning session, six overs later once again off the bowling of Rankin, giving a regulation slip catch to Rikki Clarke for 2. By this time Moeen Ali had passed 50 and was looking well set at the crease. Matt Pardoe joined him a 5th wicket partnership that took the home side to the lunch interval.

After the lunch interval the partnership developed with Pardoe looking more and more confident at the crease with some elegant cover drives. Moeen Ali survived a strong LBW appeal when offering no shot when he was on 82 and survived a stumping attempt when on 84 when spin was introduced into the match for the first time with the bowling of Ant Botha.

The 5th wicket stand between Moeen Ali and Pardoe was worth 73 and helped the home side build a more than useful lead. Moeen Ali was dismissed just short of a well deserved century, caught at slip by Rikki Clarke for 92 off the bowling of Botha. Gareth Andrew was dismissed two balls later chipping an easy catch to Chris Woakes at mid off for a duck.

Matt Pardoe was then joined for a 7th wicket stand of 43 with keeper Ben Cox, the majority of it with the new ball, which was not taken until after the 87th over. Cox scored 21 before being trapped LBW attempting a sweep shot just before the tea interval. Worcestershire went in at tea on 341-7.

After tea Damien Wright hit a fast & furious 25 off 25 balls before being caught by Jim Troughton off the bowling of Rankin. Matt Pardoe completed his maiden First Class fifty in only his second match, passing his 50 in 136 deliveries and helped Worcestershire gain an extra bonus batting point.
Pardoe was last man out for 54, after an excellent composed innings lasting 142 deliveries and containing 8 boundaries, giving Rankin his 5th wicket of the innings to finish with figures 5-57. Worcestershire were dismissed for 375, a first innings lead of 174.

In the 24 overs that remained to complete the second day Warwickshire produced a solid opening partnership of 76, with Varun Chopra in particular looking very elegant and well set at the crease, ending the day unbeaten on 57*.

Worcestershire will hope for early wickets on the morning of the 3rd day to ensure they keep the pressure on the visitors.

Close of play Day 2: Warwickshire (201 & 76-0) trail Worcestershire (375) by 98 runs with 10 second innings wickets remaining.