[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Day Two

Morning: The splendid weather continued into Wednesday, as did Worcestershire's batting fortunes. On 9, nightwatchman Charlie Morris was dropped at first slip, and the number eleven - fresh from his first century in any format for the second XI a few weeks ago - proceeded to punish the visitors for the error with a series of assured attacking shots. Jake Libby was also in typically fluent form, reaching his half-century off seventy-two balls around noon, and with the last ball before lunch, Morris pulled George Rhodes to the boundary to complete his own maiden Championship fifty as Worcestershire completed a wicketless session and moved into firm command of the match on 138-1.

Afternoon: If it all seemed a little too good to be true, the resumption offered a dose of reality as Morris was bowled by Callum Parkinson without adding to his 50, then Libby nicked off to first slip for 77. Gareth Roderick, finally finding a bit of form, eased his way to 35 before perishing in the most absurdly unlucky fashion, inside-edging an Ed Barnes yorker onto his foot which then looped directly up to second slip. But despite those three wickets offering a little consolation to Leicestershire, the Pears strode into the lead as the afternoon wore on and took tea on a very promising 252-4.

Evening: Not for the first time this year, Brett D'Oliveira came in on a run-a-ball mission, finding the boundary off his first delivery and continuing to swat away balls with disdain as the overs went by. But it was always a style that invited a cheap dismissal, and after a useful 37 off thirty-four balls, the wee man chipped Parkinson straight to short extra cover to hand the Foxes an easy wicket. Shortly afterward, Jack Haynes - having once again set himself well and looking good for a big score - became the second fluke casualty of the innings when a ball he edged onto the keeper's pad ricocheted onto the wicket while his back foot was up, sending him back to the pavilion for 44 as victim of the most bizarre and fortuitous stumping of the season. But it was to be the last stroke of luck Leicestershire would have as Ben Cox and Ed Barnard calmly and methodically built an imperious partnership in the evening sun, the former making his half-century in the final overs before Worcestershire closed on 378-6, with a commanding lead of 156 runs. Maximum points may just be beyond reach with only three overs left in the morning to reach 400, but the Pears are very much on top, and the only question mark hangs over the timing, wisdom and spirit of an eventual declaration. Has the pitch flattened into placidity as it did so often in the spring? Would an early declaration allow the Foxes back into the match? Could sentimentality deter us from batting them well out of the game, and potentially denying Daryl Mitchell the chance of one last knock in the process? A pleasant headache for the skipper to have in his final game in charge.