Triallist Ryan Tongue impressed for Worcestershire Seconds on the third day of the four-day clash with Surrey Seconds at Kidderminster’s Chester Road ground.
Opener Tongue – the elder brother of County paceman Josh Tongue – made 70 as the home side replied to Surrey’s 385 all out with 270-5 on a shortened day.
Tongue was given an opportunity after scoring three successive centuries and 1,000 runs in the Birmingham League for Barnards Green this summer.
He hit 13 fours in his 142 ball knock.
Worcestershire resumed on 40-1 and nighwatchman Alex Simpson helped Tongue move the total onto 78 before being dismissed for 20.
Josh Dell joined Tongue and the third wicket pair added 72 before the former fell for 32 off 62 balls with five boundaries.
Tongue was fourth out at 170 and Alex Hepburn (14) followed five runs later.
But then Ross Whiteley and keeper Alex Milton, who this week signed his first professional contract with Worcestershire, batted positively.
They added an unbroken 95 to take Worcestershire to tea but the players never returned because of bad light.
Whiteley was unbeaten on 46 from 80 balls with one six and three fours while Milton was also 46 not out from 86 deliveries with one six and five other boundaries.
Worcestershire Seconds – first innings continued
(overnight 40-1)
R Tongue c E Woods b B Currie 70
A Simpson c W Jacks b C McKerr 20
J Dell b F Van Den Bergh 32
A Hepburn b B Brookes 14
R Whiteley not out 46
A Milton+ not out 46
Extras 25
Total (for 5 wickets) 270
FOW continued: 78, 150, 170, 175
Bowling
B Currie 16-5-54-1
C McKerr 12-8-18-2
R Jafri 14-3-41-0
B Brookes 15-3-57-1
F Van Den Bergh 14-1-40-1
W Jacks 10-1-37-0
T Homes 2-0-7-0
