[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Day Two

Morning: Another sunny morning by the Avon, and Josh Tongue wasted no time taking the ninth Gloucestershire wicket as Josh Shaw edged behind in the very first over. But though future Pear Gareth Roderick played a few handsome attacking shots to move the scoreboard along before the second new ball, he managed only an unbeaten 25 before Charlie Morris had Matt Taylor caught behind for 1, and the innings concluded at 267 all out. Worcestershire's reply began confidently, with Jake Libby scoring his first runs for the county with a cut for four through deep point while Daryl Mitchell helped himself to three consecutive boundaries off Taylor's first over, and the Pears consequently went to lunch 67 without loss.

Afternoon: With half-centuries apiece for Mitch and Libby, Worcs progressed to 152 with little cause for concern until the former attempted to pull a short ball from Tom Price and bottom-edged onto the stumps, departing for 80. Tom Fell was the new man, and managed six runs before tea came with Worcestershire on 161-1.

Evening: Jake Libby couldn't convert his maiden half-century to a ton, nicking a David Payne delivery to first slip for 77, but he left the Pears in a position as strong as that which Gloucestershire had enjoyed a day earlier. It was up to Fell and Jack Haynes to ensure our innings didn't go the same way, and though the home side bowled a tight line and kept both batsmen on a leash, there were no further scares as Worcestershire closed on 223-2, claiming the day's honours again. Under the rules of the Bob Willis Trophy, Worcs will have another thirty-eight overs of this first innings tomorrow, so the strategy must be to weather the new ball in the morning, keep wickets in hand and then attack in the last fifteen. If the pitch stays good for batting then a draw may well be on the cards, but a lead of 150 or more would put the Pears firmly in the driving seat.