[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Day Two

Morning: A distinctly un-summery Sunday morning at Wantage Road, but thankfully dry enough to get some cricket, and it was clear that the sixth-wicket pair weren't going to hang around. Going straight into run-a-ball mode, Riki Wessels brought up his half-century within the hour, and the hundred partnership with Ben Cox came up off 127 balls. At 212-5 the Pears were cruising, but Wessels was bowled for 88 attempting to smash spinner Saif Zaib out of the attack, and Cox departed in the very next over, chopping onto his stumps for 39 as he attempted to pull Blessing Muzarabani. After that, it was an astonishing collapse; Ed Barnard tried to attack Zaib but was caught in the deep for a duck, Joe Leach was pinned LBW by an inswinger from Muzarabani for 5, and Dillon Pennington nicked a jaffer to first slip for a golden duck. Five wickets for just seven runs, and Worcs were all out for 219. With time for one over of the reply before lunch, the home side went in on five without loss.

Afternoon: Under heavy, murky skies, Joe Leach got the much-needed early wicket of Ricardo Vasconcelos, who nicked to third slip for 4 leaving Northants 6-1. A bit of extra bounce on a short ball from Josh Tongue then bamboozled Ben Curran, and his top-edge was pouched safely at square leg for 14. Still the hosts weren't afraid to counter-attack, and there was some cut-and-thrust stuff before Richard Wakely slashed at an Ed Barnard delivery outside off which flew high to first slip for 9, and Richard Levi edged to second slip for 11 off the same bowler. At 60-4 the Pears looked firmly in command, but another careful rebuilding job carried Northants to 90-4 by tea, which proved the last of the day's action as the rain closed in.

Evening: No play possible due to rain.