Chris Russell made telling contributions with bat and ball to help Worcestershire Seconds launch a recovery on day one of the Second Eleven Championship derby with Warwickshire at Flagge Meadow, Worcester today.
Worcestershire skipper George Rhodes elected to bat and the home side slumped to 191-9 despite a half century from Alexei Kervezee before last man Russell joined spinner Ben Twohig at the wicket.
The pair proceeded to add 96 in 24 overs to help Worcestershire to a final total of 287 in 72.1 overs.
Russell made 60 from 66 balls with six fours before he was caught at mid on from the first delivery bowled by Andy Umeed.
Twohig remained unbeaten on 32 from 87 deliveries with three boundaries.
Worcestershire quickly lost openers Rhodes and keeper Callum Dickinson to Mark Adair but then Kervezee shared in partnerships of 58 with Josh Dell (15) and 35 with Alex Hepburn (39).
He was eventually caught at backward point off Sukhjit Singh for 67.
Zen Malik, one of two Second Eleven debutants along with Josh Haynes, made a useful 28 before the Twohig-Russell stand.
Russell took the new ball and bowled Umeed (1) and Liam Banks (1) in successive overs and then Josh Tongue accounted for Ed Pollock (21) to leave Warwickshire on 35-3.
Sam Hain and Alex Mellor added an unbroken 44 before the close 1t 79-3 off 31 overs.
Worcestershire Seconds – first innings
Rhodes c and b Adair 1
Dickinson c Mellor b Adair 9
Kervezee c Childs b Singh 67
Dell c Lamb b Phagura 15
Hepburn c Pollock b Wright 39
Hammond lbw Singh 0
Malik c Banks b Adair 28
Haynes c Mellor b Singh 11
Tongue c Mellor b Adair 3
Twohig not out 32
Russell c Wright b Umeed 60
Extras 22
Total (all out) 287 in 72.1 overs
FOW: 5, 16, 74, 109,109, 149, 180, 190, 191, 287
Bowling: Adair 4-63, Singh3-72, Wright 1-49, Phagura 1-29, Umeed 1-0
Warwickshire Seconds – first innings
Umeed b Russell 1
Banks b Russell 1
Pollock c Hepburn b Tongue 21
Hain not out 25
Mellor not out 26
Extras 5
Total (for 3 wickets) 79 in 31 overs
FOW: 2, 5, 35
Bowling
Russell 6-1-18-2
Tongue 7-3-18-1
Whiles 6-2-14-0
Hepburn 7-0-21-0
Twohig 4-2-4-0
Rhodes 1-0-2-0
