Alex Milton seized the opportunity presented by the absence of Ben Cox and Joe Clarke in top-scoring for Worcestershire in the 88 run defeat by Somerset in a 50 over friendly at Taunton Vale.
The 20-year-old wicket-keeper-batsman hit 66 off 68 balls with three boundaries as Clarke and Cox flew back from MCC duty versus Middlesex in Abu Dhabi.
Milton, who was a regular member of the Second Eleven last season whenever University commitments allowed, added 74 for the sixth wicket with Academy player Josh Dell (39).
The other sizeable contribution for the County came from Brett D'Oliveira – two wickets and 45 runs.
But Worcestershire were bowled out for 230 in 45.1 overs in reply to Somerset's 318-5.
Openers Jim Allenby – 62 off 73 balls with one six and five fours – and former Worcestershire keeper Steven Davies – 62 off 65 with nine fours – put on 128 in 23 overs.
D'Oliveira dismissed Allenby, caught at deep square leg off a slog sweep, to break the stand and then Ben Twohig held onto a return catch from Davies at 130-2.
D'Oliveira also sent back Peter Trego (27) and Twohig enjoy a second success to account for James Hildreth (35).
Joe Leach got rid of Tom Abell (41) before Adam Hose – 52 off 38 balls with one six and six fours – and Roleof van der Merwe (29 not out) added an unbroken 63 in 5.5 overs.
D'Oliveira finished with 2-47 from his full compliment of 10 overs and Twohig 2-43 from six.
When Worcestershire replied, Ollie Westbury (1) and Tom Fell (17) were both bowled by Tim Groenwald to leave them on 22-2.
D'Oliveira and Alexei Kervezee added 67 in eight overs for the third wicket.
The former made 45 before he was caught at short fine leg off a lap sweep at Peter Trego and the same bowler also sent back Kervezee (24) who was caught behind.
In between Ross Whiteley (six) perished to a leading edge at mid on off Jamie Overton and Worcestershire had lost half of their side for 98 in 19 overs.
But Milton and Dell, who played for the England Under-19 side last summer, added 74 in 17 overs to check Somerset's progress.
Dell was eventually sixth out at 172 – caught behind off Groenwald – and Milton was bowled by spinner Max Waller, the penultimate wicket to fall.
The two sides will meet again tomorrow at the same venue in another 50 over contest.
Somerset
Davies c and b Twohig 65
Allenby c Kervezee b D'Oliveira 62
Trego c Brown b D'Oliveira 27
Hildreth c Kervezee b Twohig 35
Abell c Shantry b Leach 41
Hose not out 52
Van der Merwe not out 29
Extras 7
Total (for 5 wickets) 318 in 50 overs
FOW: 128, 130, 182, 216, 255
Bowling
Leach 10-0-63-1
Shantry 10-0-64-0
Brown 5-0-34-0
Morris 9-0-65-0
D'Oliveira 10-0-47-2
Twohig 6-0-43-2
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Worcestershire
Westbury b Groenwald 1
D'Oliveira c Davey b Trego 45
Fell b Groenwald 17
Kervezee c Davies b Trego 24
Whiteley c Bess b J. Overton 6
Dell c Davies b Groenwald 39
Milton b Waller 66
Leach b Groenwald 9
Twohig c Allenby b Bess 1
Shantry c Allenby b J Overton 5
Morris not out 0
Extras 7
Total (all out) 230 in 45.1 overs
FOW: 2, 22, 89, 98, 98, 172, 198, 221, 227, 230
Bowling
Groenwald 9-0-52-4
Davey 4-1-16-0
J. Overton 7.1-0-36-2
Trego 6-0-29-2
Waller 10-0-50-1
Bess 9-0-46-1
