Worcestershire CCC’s third wicket pair of Riki Wessels and Callum Ferguson both hit half centuries – followed by a third in the evening session from Ben Cox – on a topsy turvy second day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Sussex at Kidderminster.
Wessels and Ferguson joined forces shortly before lunch with Worcestershire 11-2 in reply to Sussex’s 255 all out after a double breakthrough by Ollie Robinson.
Wessels put a challenging run behind him to complete a 56 ball half century with 10 boundaries.
He and Ferguson added 93 in 25 overs before Chris Jordan broke the stand when Wessels (55) edged to Robinson who held onto a low sharp chance at first slip.
Ferguson went onto complete his maiden Championship fifty off 111 balls with seven boundaries in the final over before tea which arrived with Worcestershire on 138-3 from 42 overs.
Jordan then made a double breakthrough in the same over with Ross Whiteley (21) caught at mid off and Ferguson (56) falling at cover.
But Ed Barnard and vice-captain Cox joined forces to post a 74 stand in 23 overs before the former on 29 was lbw to Luke Wells.
Cox went onto complete a fine 78 ball fifty with six fours and Brett D’Oliveira (20 not out) also played some enterprising shots as Worcestershire closed on 262-6 with the second new ball due at the start of play tomorrow.
Robinson had struck with the new ball in sending back Daryl Mitchell and Josh Dell in successive overs.
Mitchell (0) fell to a fine low catch at second slip by Laurie Evans and Dell (8) was trapped lbw.
Sussex began the day on 185-6 and lost their final four wickets for 70 runs – including captain and keeper Ben Brown who was last out for 80.
He had resumed on 64 not out but today added just one more boundary – his 12th – before giving Ed Barnard the charge and being bowled to bring an end to his 160 ball knock.
Adam Finch made the first breakthrough of the day by dismissing Jordan to end a partnership of 92 in 20 overs with Brown.
Jordan (52) had brought up his half century off 59 balls with a boundary off Finch but in the same over was caught at cover by Dell.
Robinson dominated a stand of 56 in 16 overs with Brown before the last three wickets went down for five runs.
Robinson (38) nicked Barnard through to Cox and new Sussex signing and debutant Aaron Thomason (4) went lbw to Whiteley before Brown’s dismissal.
Wayne Parnell finished with 4-92 and there were two wickets apiece for Finch, who made a favourable impression in his second first class appearance, and Barnard.
