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Day Two

Morning: A far better day for cricket, and young Adam Finch wasted no time in removing Chris Jordan for 52, caught at cover, to break Day One's most stubborn partnership early doors. From there, Sussex upped their scoring rate, and Ed Barnard provided the next crucial breakthrough with Ollie Robinson caught behind for 38; the last two wickets then fell in quick succession to leave the visitors 255 all out. The Pears had every reason to be pleased with their morning's work till that point, but Ollie Robinson struck in successive overs before lunch to dismiss Daryl Mitchell caught low at second slip for a duck, and Josh Dell LBW for 8, evening up the session and sending Worcs into the interval on a precarious and all too familiar 14-2.

Afternoon: However, the home side enjoyed their best session with the bat in a good few weeks on a fine Kidderminster afternoon, with Callum Ferguson and Riki Wessels forming a solid partnership and putting away the bad balls when they came. It took Chris Jordan to break the fruitful stand, with Wessels edging to first slip for 55 not long after bringing up the half-century. Still, it was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon, and as Fergie brought up his own maiden Championship fifty shortly before tea, Worcs reached the interval on 138-3.

Evening: Just when it looked like the pendulum was swinging decisively Worcestershire's way, Jordan struck twice in one over to remove Whiteley caught at mid-off for 21, and Fergie caught at cover for 56. On 152-5 with two fresh batsmen at the crease, it could all have gone wrong yet again, but for the hour and a half that followed, Ben Cox and Ed Barnard did a patient and necessary rebuilding job. Shortly before the close, the latter was dismissed LBW for 29 by Luke Wells, bringing Dolly out to the middle at a very tricky time, but Worcestershire reached stumps without further loss, closing on 262-6 with a lead of 7. Sussex will take the new ball first thing in the morning, and it's vital that our two experienced batsmen weather the early storm and then cash in. 300 should be the minimum target, and with a couple of big hitters to come, it could well be more.