Worcestershire Seconds fought back with three late wickets – including two by 16 year-old spinner Ben Twohig – on the opening day of the Second Eleven Championship match with Leicestershire at Lutterworth.
Worcestershire were dismissed for 160 after being put into bat despite a half century from England Under-19 wicket-keeper Joe Clarke.
Leicestershire reached 170-2 in reply thanks largely to a century from skipper Dan Redfern but ended on 199-5.
The start was delayed for an hour because of overnight rain but play eventually got underway in sunshine and Alex Hepburn was dismissed for a duck in the opening over.
Matt Pardoe and Shaaiq Choudhry added 46 for the second wicket before the latter was lbw by Michael Thornely for 29 containing five fours.
Clarke joined Choudhry and the third wicket pair added 54 in taking the total to 101. Choudhry fell for 35 but Clarke made 55 off 99 balls with 10 fours despite a mid order collapse which saw the score subside to 117-6.
Twohig (12) helped Clarke add 25 but once the latter had been caught behind the remaining wickets tumbled quickly and the innings ended in 56.1 overs.
Graham Whiles struck immediately for Worcestershire having Angus Robson caught behind by Joe Clarke for a duck no score off the third ball of their innings.
This brought Redfern to the crease who signalled his intent immediately with several well struck boundaries in racking up a half century off just 38 balls.
Whiles struck again to the last ball before tea, bowling Thornely (8) who had been playing the anchor role to Redfern’s more flamboyant play.
Leicestershire went into tea at 69-2 with Redfern having made 58 of this total.
The bowlers all felt the weight of Redfern’s bat in the final session as he went on to make 116 off just 83 deliveries until Twohig caught him at midwicket off the bowling of Will MacVicar in the 31st over.
Twohig remained in the action, taking two more wickets in the next nine overs and bowling a series of maidens in tandem with MacVicar.
Worcestershire first innings: Pardoe lbw Thornely 29, Hepburn c Hill b Sheikh 0, Choudhry c Sheikh b Sykes 35, Clarke c Hill b Thakor 55, Andrew c Ali b Sheikh 7, MacVicar c Hill b Sheikh 0, Rhodes c Whittock b Sheikh 0, Twohig c Hill b Sheikh 12, Cessford c Redfern b Sheikh 9, Whiles c Hill b Thakor 4, Lester not out 0. Extras 9. Total 160 all out (56.1 overs).
Bowling: Sheikh 6-49, Thakor 2-29, Thornely 1-25, Sykes 1-20.
FOW: 1, 47, 101, 111, 117, 117, 142, 146, 151, 160.
Leicestershire first innings: Robson c Clarke b Whiles 0, Thornely b Whiles 8, Redfern c Twohig b MacVicar 116, Thakor c Lester b Twohig 52, Hill not out 5, Ali lbw Twohig 0, Johnson not out 6. Extras 12. Total 199-5 (45 overs).
Bowling: Whiles 7-0-23-2, Cessford 4-1-28-0, MacVicar 7-4-18-1, Rhodes 4-0-24-0, Lester 8-1-45-0, Choudhry 8-1-35-0, Twohig7-3-14-2.
FOW: 1, 69, 170, 186, 186
