Worcestershire Head Bowling Coach Alan Richardson gave his reaction to BBC Hereford-Worcester’s Dave Bradley at the end of day one of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Lancashire at Southport and Birkdale CC.
The visitors totalled 222, with Brett D’Oliveira top-scoring with 65, and then three wickets from Josh Tongue, who also instigated a fortunate run-out of Dane Vilas, reduced Lancashire to 96-5 by the close.
Richardson said: “It looks like there has been a little bit in the wicket throughout. I thought Lancashire bowled really well at times and put us under a lot of pressure.
“They created a lot of chances. We always felt we had to try and get some kind of score and that gives us the opportunity to get some kind of lead.
“It was an invaluable knock from Dolly but looks like one of those wickets where you are never really ‘in.’
“You talk about guys getting to 30-40 and then really kicking on but Dolly was still playing and missing when he got to his 50 and they obviously bowled well at him.
“It is about trying to accumulate what Sharpy (Head Coach Kevin Sharp) calls ‘dirty runs’ and give yourself of getting a lead going into that third innings.
“Ed Barnard (who made 24 not out) said it was hard work. He just tried to play the ball as late as he could and he looked in control and it was just unfortunate that he ran out of partners.
“Tonguey (Josh Tongue) hung around with him for quite a while which was great and got us over 200 and at least got us to a batting point which at some stage possibly didn’t look as if it was going to happen.”
Richardson added: “I don’t think we have bowled as well as we can do. We’ve only bowled four maidens out of 23 which is very unlike us.
“But we’ve still managed to get five wickets so we are half-way there in this first innings.
“Hopefully we will renew our efforts again tomorrow. Things have gone our way today with the ball. Hopefully we will bowl well again in the morning and give us a chance to get a lead.”
