Worcestershire opener Richard Oliver scored his first ever fifty in LV = County Championship Division One cricket on the second morning of the clash with Sussex at Hove.
Oliver, who 12 months ago was playing Minor Counties cricket for Shropshire before being given a trial at New Road, reached his half century off 119 deliveries with seven boundaries.
He and Alex Gidman steadied the innings with a half century stand after Worcestershire lost two early wickets after resuming on 45-0 in reply to Sussex's 345 all out on the opening day.
Matthew Hobden made the double breakthrough for Sussex on a wicket still full of pace and bounce.
Mitchell on 26 pushed forward and was bowled in the third over of the morning and then Tom Fell, a century-maker against Yorkshire last week, was undone by an outswinger and caught behind by Ben Brown for three.
Worcestershire were then 60-2 in the 20th over. Oliver also had a let-off on 23 when Carl Cachopa at first slip failed to hold onto a difficult chance off Steve Magoffin before he square drove the same bowler to the boundary.
The left hander was struck on the helmet by a Tynan Mills delivery before collecting successive fours off the same bowler through the covers and backward point.
Gidman hit three boundaries in an over from Ajmal Shahzad to move into the 20s.
Oliver brought up his 50 with a two square of the wicket off Hobden on his return to the attack.
He was given a second life on 58 with Cachopa at first slip again spilling the chance off Hobden.
By lunch Oliver (64 not out) and Gidman (29 not out) had added 73 in 27.2 overs with Worcestershire 132-2 from 47 overs.
Oliver has struck eight fours in his 159 ball knock.
