[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

County Championship, Division One

vs Hampshire

Day One

Morning: On a gloomy, overcast day the Pears unsurprisingly put Hants in to bat. A quick wicket from captain Joe Leach put Worcs in business, but for most of the session thereafter the bowling attack toiled against a dogged second-wicket partnership of over a hundred runs that saw James Vince hit a quickfire 75. It was Steve Magoffin who eventually saw off both set batsmen just before lunch to even things up a little just as the innings was starting to get away from the visitors.

Afternoon: From struggling with line and length all morning, the Pears suddenly hit their stride after lunch, and in response, Hampshire collapsed. Josh Tongue's first Division One scalp was one to remember in the form of Hashim Amla, while Daryl Mitchell, who only bowled seven full overs in red-ball cricket in 2017, ended the session with two wickets in two balls.

Evening: If there's one thing likely to relegate the Pears this season, it's spells of complacency when they take their foot off the pedal, and this evening was a fine example. With Hants on the ropes at 242-9, they proceeded to allow the home team nearly a 50-run tenth-wicket stand, pushing them just shy of 300; a score which could prove all the difference in these conditions. Coming in to bat, the visitors then lost Dolly early doors, prompting a fight for Daryl Mitchell and Tom Fell to reach stumps, only for the latter - still desperately out of luck - to cop an absolute jaffer in the last over of the day. With Josh Tongue in as nightwatchman, Worcs are 40-2 overnight, and honours are just about even after a topsy-turvy day. A couple of big partnerships needed on the morrow.