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County Championship, Division Two

vs Sussex

Day One

Morning: Worcestershire won the toss and put Sussex in to bat on an overcast day - is there any other kind this summer? - in Kidderminster. Still, it proved a morning to remember for young Adam Finch, taking the new ball after his senior debut last week, when he claimed the opening wicket of Will Beer caught behind for 3. From there the baton was passed to Wayne Parnell, who enticed Harry Finch to drive to backward point for a duck, Luke Wells to flick a ball straight to midwicket for 29, and bowled Laurie Evans for 2 in the same over to leave the visitors 55-4. A period of consolidation followed, but on the stroke of lunch Stiaan van Zyl pushed forward to Joe Leach and was bowled, bringing the session to a close with Sussex 89-5.

Afternoon: In his second over of the afternoon, the increasingly impressive Parnell pinned David Wiese LBW for 5. Just as it looked like Sussex were down and out, Ben Brown and Chris Jordan counter-attacked to carry the southerners to 185-6 before rain curtailed the day's action.

Evening: No play possible due to rain.

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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.

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Day Three

Morning: A decent start following a minor rain delay, with 19 runs added to the overnight total before Ollie Robinson had Ben Cox caught behind for 61. Robinson also dismissed Dolly LBW for 31 to leave the Pears 296-8, but Joe Leach brought up the third batting point with a marvellous on-drive, and the bonus runs just kept on coming as Wayne Parnell got in on the act, thumping Will Beer's first ball to the midwicket boundary. Though the latter was eventually bowled for 43 by Luke Wells, the skipper brought up his half-century by pulling Robinson for six as Worcestershire made it to 383 all out; a handy lead of 128.

Afternoon: The day just got better and better for the Pears as the visitors crumbled against the new ball. In the first over, Joe Leach dismissed Luke Wells LBW for a duck, before Adam Finch got namesake Harry to chop on to his stumps for 4. 11-2, and the pressure continued as Ed Barnard removed Will Beer with a simple caught-and-bowled off a leading edge. When Wayne Parnell had Stiaan van Zyl caught one-handed at cover for 18, leaving Sussex 34-4, it looked like an innings victory within three days might be possible. However, not for the first time this season, injuries started haunting the Pears bowling attack, and soon Parnell was off with a hamstring injury while Leach toiled valiantly against a strain, and the visitors steadily rebuilt to 83-4 at tea.

Evening: The partnership between Laurie Evans and Ben Brown continued to be the bane of Worcestershire's day, and even when Ed Barnard finally struck in the last hour to remove Brown with a top-edged skyer to fine leg, David Wiese came in and kept the momentum with Sussex. Evans reached a fairly untroubled century as the visitors closed on 236-5, leading by 108, and suddenly an injury-plagued Worcs attack seems to be running out of ideas. The morning session will be key, and the Pears need to work quickly to try and claim those five wickets for around a 200 lead. If Sussex bat long and the lead creeps towards 250, this match will slowly slip out of Worcestershire's grasp, having looked so firmly in it at one stage.

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Day Four

Morning: On a bright June morning promising warmer days ahead, the Pears got a much-needed early breakthrough when Laurie Evans edged behind from Ross Whiteley for 113. Just before noon the second new ball became available, and with it Joe Leach removed David Wiese for 47 and Ed Barnard dismissed Chris Jordan in the same fashion for 8, leaving Sussex 314-8 with a lead of just 186. It looked like the visitors were folding again, but former Warks man Aaron Thomason - making his debut for the southerners - had other ideas. He guided his new team safely to lunch on 242-8, with the lead now 214 and growing.

Afternoon: Immediately after the interval, Ross Whiteley struck to have Ollie Robinson caught at backward point, and at 242-9 there was fresh hope that a win was on the cards. But Thomason formed a record partnership with Abidine Sakande to hoist Sussex up to an unassailable lead of 297 before he was bowled by Dolly for 90. With only forty overs remaining, the Pears strolled to 82-2 before the captains shook hands at five o'clock.

Match DRAWN

The Verdict: Frustration, frustration, frustration. A much improved performance with the bat, and spells when Worcs had Sussex very much on the ropes; but for the second time this summer, Wayne Parnell has capped a devastating spell in the attack by getting injured and leaving the Pears a bowler light, and that was a big part of this game slipping away. The county continue to tread water in mid-table, and it's vital that we get back to winning ways against Glamorgan in a fortnight.

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County Championship, Division Two

vs Glamorgan

Day One

Morning: Worcestershire put Glamorgan straight in to bat on a muggy, cloudy Sunday morning in Cardiff. Despite a grassy pitch and good overhead conditions, it proved a mistake as the home side's openers navigated the first hour cautiously and without loss. The breakthrough didn't come until near lunch, when Adam Finch found the edge of Owen Morgan's bat to have him caught at first slip for 28, and the Pears sent Glamorgan in on 87-1.

Afternoon: It got steadily worse for the visitors as the afternoon wore on, with Ed Barnard the only man able to strike a blow, having Nick Selman caught at first slip for 67 with the total 155-2. But Glamorgan closed the session on 235-2, and things were looking increasingly ominous.

Evening: Just as disaster was looming, Brett D'Oliveira stepped up to provide one of the bowling spells of his career. Having received plenty of punishment during the afternoon, around five o'clock he managed to remove Marnus Labuschagne caught and bowled for 106, before bowling Billy Root for a duck in his next over and pinning Dan Douthwaite LBW for another duck two balls later. Then, in the penultimate over of the day David Lloyd also fell to Dolly, caught at cover for 92 to give the part-time leggy his best figures since 2016. Still, Glamorgan closed on 354-6 to claim the day and leave the Pears with a lot of work to do tomorrow.

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Day Two

Morning: Another warm day, and with the first ball of the sixth over Adam Finch made a much-needed breakthrough when Graham Wagg top-edged a pull to mid-off for 4. From there it was back to being the D'Oliveira show as the spinner first completed his five-fer, and then set a new career best by mopping up the tail for a seven-wicket haul. However, Glamorgan had achieved maximum batting points and stubbornly slogged their way up to 449 all out, and it was already a daunting task ahead as Daryl Mitchell and Josh Dell shepherded the Pears to 6-0 at lunch.

Afternoon: Batting was far from easy, and the run-rate scarcely crept above two an over, but Mitch and Dell dug in tenaciously to weather the early pressure and take the shine off the ball. It was just as Josh Dell was looking to put his foot down that he pushed forward to a David Lloyd delivery and edged behind for 36. Still, going in for tea at 90-1, it looked like the visitors had a platform to build on.

Evening: But the platform soon fell to pieces as Mitch was caught behind for 43 off a delivery that moved across him, shortly followed by Riki Wessels caught high at second slip for 9. And the wickets just continued to fall, with Callum Ferguson chopping on to his stumps for 29 as he attempted a forcing shot and Ross Whiteley bowled off his legs for 17 just before close, leaving Worcestershire 191-5 overnight with a deficit of 258. First and foremost, the Pears just need to make the necessary 109 on Tuesday to avoid the follow-on; with that done, there's still hope of guiding this to a draw.

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Day Three

Morning: On another agreeably warm Welsh morning, Worcestershire resumed on 191-5 but suffered an early setback when nightwatchman Charlie Morris was run out for 7 after testing the arm of Billy Root on a quick single. Ed Barnard completed a good half-century before departing LBW for 56 to a full-length delivery from Michael Hogan. Having defended valiantly for most of the session, Ben Cox was the next to go, gloving behind for 12 off Dan Douthwaite, and at the interval the Pears were on a precarious 284-8, still 16 short of avoiding the follow-on.

Afternoon: Joe Leach wasted no time after the break in pushing Worcs past the vital 300 before being caught behind for 16 off a Hogan outswinger. Nine down, it seemed the end was nigh, but the last-wicket stand between Adam Finch and Brett D'Oliveira saw out the remainder of the session - a full hour and three-quarters - and effectively took the win out of Glamorgan's hands. Dropped down the order after a difficult fifteen months, Dolly was right back into free-scoring form on what's arguably his favourite ground, following up his seven first-innings wickets with a patient, exemplary century completed by a cover-drive for four. On the stroke of tea, he offered up a simple caught-and-bowled to Hogan, but that rearguard action had carried the Pears from 302-9 to 370 all out, cutting the deficit from 147 to 79.

Evening: In just the sixth ball of Glamorgan's second innings, Joe Leach made an ideal start with Owen Morgan edging behind for a duck. However, he was the only man to fall in a leisurely evening session that saw the home side reach 137-1 by close, with a lead of 216.

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Day Four

Morning: Resuming on a hot Wednesday morning with a lead of 216, Marnus Labuschagne was an early casualty for Glamorgan when he swept straight to deep midwicket off Dolly for 100, and the spinner also accounted for Nick Selman - his ninth wicket of the match - who was bowled for 58 attempting a heave-ho into the onside. David Lloyd was the third casualty of the day, edging behind for 12 off Charlie Morris as he attempted a drive, but a stubborn partnership then formed until Ed Barnard dismissed Dan Douthwaite LBW for 40 just before the interval, with the home side 240-5. Six further runs were added, and at lunch Glamorgan declared, setting the Pears 326 to win.

Afternoon: In the fourth over of a fairly academic chase, Josh Dell fell LBW to Lukas Carey for 1, and at 8-1 there was a ripple of tension that the game might still be in the balance. But Daryl Mitchell and Callum Ferguson were rock solid for the remainder of the day, each striking a half-century - and the latter posting his highest Championship score of 70 - before the inevitable handshake came at five.

Match DRAWN

The Verdict: A deserved draw which will be remembered in years to come principally for the twin hundreds of Labuschagne, and the century-and-seven-fer from Dolly. Having had such a rough ride over the last season, it was great to see him bring up his first ton since September 2017, and become only the fourth Pears player in history to notch up a century and a seven-wicket haul in the same match, following Ted Arnold's 200* and 7-44 vs Warwickshire in 1909, Fred Root's 107 and 7-125 vs Kent in 1928, and 111* and 7-53 vs Lancashire in 1976 by a certain Imran Khan.

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County Championship, Division Two

vs Derbyshire

Day One

Morning: Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat on a perfect summer Sunday in Kidderminster. At first things were deceptively sedate, with the Pears putting in a very disciplined performance with the ball to keep the openers on a tight leash, and it was half an hour before Dillon Pennington, making his first appearance of the season, took the edge of Billy Godleman on the drive and had him caught at third slip for 8. Ed Barnard came into the attack and pinned Wayne Madsen LBW for 11, and shortly after Tom Lace edged Charlie Morris behind for 1, leaving the visitors 33-3 and in apparent trouble. However, Luis Reece and Leus Du Plooy were able to stick together for the rest of the session, reaching lunch on 63-3 with scarcely a hint of the carnage to come.

Afternoon: The tone was set with the first ball after lunch when Joe Leach had Reece caught at first slip for 31, followed by Harvey Hosein LBW for a duck in the same over and Matt Critchley caught at second slip for 0 with the first ball of his next. The baton was then passed to Charlie Morris, who had Du Plooy caught at first slip for 14, Anoj Dal caught at second for a duck, and Fynn Hudson-Prentice - after a brisk counter-attack - caught behind for 31. Ed Barnard had Ravi Rampaul caught at first slip for 4 to end the resistance of the tail as Derbyshire finished 108 all out, but when Josh Dell was caught behind for a duck to leave the Pears 0-1 in their reply, it was clear that the home side weren't going to have everything their way...

Evening: The movement off the pitch wasn't extravagant, but it was just enough for a seaming ball to take the outside edge or nip in onto a pad, and in the evening sun Worcs found batting just as difficult as Derbyshire before them. The Pears were 23-2, 36-3, 40-4, 60-5, 70-6, 77-7 and 77-8 before Joe Leach and Dillon Pennington provided some resistance. Surprisingly, with a few handy boundaries Pennington top-scored with 18 before he fell LBW to Hudson-Prentice, and with signs that the pitch was flattening, the home side managed to get their noses in front until Leach was caught at second slip for 14 to bring the innings to a close. 113 all out, a first-innings lead of 5, which was immediately wiped out as Derbyshire reached stumps 19-0.

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Day Two

Morning: Resuming on 19-0 on a warm but cloudy day, within half an hour Joe Leach was able to dismiss Luis Reece LBW for 20, and in the following over Billy Godleman edged Dillon Pennington to first slip for 26, leaving Derbyshire 46-2. The double breakthrough raised hopes of another wicket-fest, but on a flattening surface with some attritional batting, the visitors made it to lunch without further loss.

Afternoon: Just as the third-wicket partnership was becoming a thorn in the side, Pennington got Wayne Madsen to lob a simple catch to point, and after a nailed-on run-out appeal was turned down, Dolly removed Leus Du Plooy for 8, caught at mid-off. Nevertheless, the runs kept on accruing despite some tight bowling, and Derbyshire went in for tea at 179-4.

Evening: Despite the new ball being taken, a breakthrough was a long time coming after the interval, and in the end it was Ed Barnard who got Harvey Hosein to hole out to backward point for 33. More edges and false shots followed, but with no reward until Barnard got his second of the session with Matt Critchley nicking to second slip for 13. Still, Tom Lace completed a century in the last over of the day, taking the visitors to 272-6 at close with a lead of 267.