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Day Two

Morning: A cloudy Friday to see out April, and resuming on 266-2, Essex managed to bring up their third batting point in the 110th over while forcing the Pears to go pointless for their bowling efforts. However, Tom Westley tried to up the scoring rate after reaching three figures, and thus went to slog-sweep the very first delivery off stand-in skipper Jake Libby only to top-edge the ball high for a steepling catch to the keeper for 113. Nevertheless, that was the only breakthrough of the session, and Essex progressed to 368-3 at lunch.

Afternoon: More hard toil in the field, and Dillon Pennington got a deserved reward for his efforts when he struck the back pad of Dan Lawrence, dismissing the England man LBW for 90. Tight bowling kept boundaries to a minimum, and forced the Essex batsmen to take risks as they hit out before the inevitable declaration.

Evening: Paul Walter was the first casualty of the Essex charge, cutting Daryl Mitchell to short third man for 65; Ryan ten Doeschate then survived a stumping only to be sent packing LBW for 41 off the very next ball from Brett D'Oliveira, who then dismissed Adam Wheater for 23 in the same fashion and bowled Shane Snater for 1. The declaration came on 561-8, which very much rules out a first win of the season for Worcestershire this weekend; however, Mitch and Libby successfully saw off the new ball attack as they navigated the last sixteen overs of the day and guided the Pears to 37-0 at stumps, raising hopes that the draw is very much on. They'll need to carry on as they began, hope that the pitch doesn't deteriorate and that Simon Harmer doesn't make the old ball talk, and just run the hours down over the next two days.

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Day Three

Morning: A gloomy beginning to the great cricketing month of May, but there were few problems for the Worcestershire openers early on Saturday as they saw off the pace attack of Sam Cook and Peter Siddle, then counter-attacked against the change bowlers. Carrying the Pears to Nelson in the process, there was perhaps a hint of excessive cockiness in Jake Libby after smacking Simon Harmer down the ground for six, as he went to cut the spinner shortly before lunch and was bowled for 41. That rash moment opened the door for Essex, and in the space of three balls Harmer went on to have half-centurion Daryl Mitchell caught at short leg for 67 before bowling Gareth Roderick for a duck, sending Worcs in to lunch on a wobbly 135-3.

Afternoon: After a short rain delay, the fourth-wicket partnership played some positive cricket through the afternoon to steady the ship. Tom Fell again looked in good touch, taking a particular liking to Shane Snater with a series of boundaries off the Essex debutant as a wicketless session saw the Pears reach 219-3 at tea.

Evening: After completing his fifty off the third ball of the session by cover-driving Harmer, Fell was caught behind for 53 off a Sam Cook delivery that nipped away and took the edge; his fellow set batsmen, Brett D'Oliveira, was also caught behind for 67 off Snater shortly after, and for the second time in the day the door looked wide open for the visitors. It required some uncharacteristic patience from Riki Wessels alongside Ben Cox to close that door as the day's play stretched on long into the post-six o'clock gloom. There was a tense game-within-a-game in the dying overs as Worcestershire sought to bring up the third batting point while denying a second bowling point to Essex, and the batsmen managed to do both as they reached stumps on 302-5, trailing Essex by 259. In the context of the match it was Worcestershire's day, with the visitors falling a good two or three wickets short of where they'd have wanted to be. Through some serious pitch deterioration or a Harmer miracle, they'll now need fifteen scalps on the final day; the Pears, meanwhile, just need 110 runs with their five wickets in hand to make the champions bat again and effectively force the draw.

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Day Four

Morning: A bright and breezy Sunday with plenty of cloud and patchy sunshine, and it didn't take long for the wheels to come off. Riki Wessels made it only to 33 when he chopped on from Sam Cook, and though Ben Cox tried to be positive and find the boundary with frequency, he too only made it to 37 before Cook bowled him through the gate. The morning went from bad to worse as Alzarri Joseph departed LBW for a duck and Ed Barnard followed him back to the pavilion after Simon Harmer bowled him for 1 with a ball that spun back sharply from outside off, and before the cathedral bells had even tolled noon, the death knell was sounding for Plan A of beating the follow-on. But credit was due to Dillon Pennington and Charlie Morris for digging in over the next three-quarters of an hour, soaking up precious time and adding a few good runs; the former even pulling Dan Lawrence for six before attempring the same trick again and being bowled for 30. All out for 364, the Pears were unsurprisingly asked to follow on, and the openers negotiated three overs to take the hosts in to lunch on 2-0.

Afternoon: Despite a few boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking, Daryl Mitchell was a trifle too blase in shouldering arms to Sam Cook early in the session, and was promptly bowled for 20 by a ball that nipped back. But new man Tom Fell was solid as a rock alongside the equally redoubtable Jake Libby, frustrating the Essex attack for the remainder of the session and taking the Pears to tea on 105-1.

Evening: With the draw now looking a foregone conclusion, there was time for one final wobble as Fell was adjudged LBW to the first ball of the evening session and departed for a battling 35. The champions might have been in with a sniff if they'd picked up another quick couple, but Gareth Roderick was very much batting for his place in the team after a first-innings duck, and once he'd survived an early caught-and-bowled chance that went down, he battened down the hatches well. Libby was typically unflustered, dealing with everything the visitors sent down, and had only one brief scare when a strong LBW shout with no shot offered was denied; his half-century followed soon after. It was all academic from there on, and having followed the same pattern as the season's first game for four full days, this match concluded in the same fashion: with an early fist-bump to share the spoils.

Match DRAWN

The Verdict: To have held the champions to a draw twice, even on placid pitches, is as good as it gets for the Pears, who are now the only unbeaten team in a tight Group One, where the top five teams are separated by only five points. Sooner or later a win will be needed if Worcs hope to sit at the top table, and the task won't be easy with a trip to Edgbaston on the cards next weekend. But the county continue to show resilience in situations where they'd have folded in previous seasons, and overall, that bodes well.

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After renewing first-class hostilities with Warwickshire for the first time in five years last August, Worcestershire are still waiting for the win that's been two decades in coming. It's been even longer since the Pears beat the Bears at Edgbaston - a ten-wicket victory around the August bank holiday weekend in 1993, when the likes of Hick and Moody were in their pomp - but Birmingham is the setting for this week's encounter, and it will take something special to change the county's fortunes. It's been a contrasting start to the season for the two rivals, with Worcs meandering from one high-scoring draw to the next while Warks have alternated between victory and defeat after modest batting displays. But just two points now separate the sides, and something somewhere has got to give.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in the off-season and regaining fitness in the seconds, Josh Tongue will be available for his first start of the season. Jake Libby will also be crucial to Worcestershire's fortunes as one of the country's leading scorers (over 150 runs ahead of Warwickshire's nearest candidate, Sam Hain) while Gareth Roderick may have done just enough in Sunday's game-saving rearguard to hold on to his number 4 place. For the hosts, Pieter Malan is now available for selection and Olly Stone will return after being rested last week, to augment an already-formidable seam attack. However, the weather may prove the most decisive factor, with rain currently forecast for the entirety of Saturday and possibly a chunk of Sunday too.

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County Championship, Group One

vs Warwickshire

Day One

Morning: Pears won the toss and put the Bears in to bat on a cloudy Thursday morning shortly after a shower of rain. Skipper Joe Leach was briefly vindicated when he got a ball to swing away from counterpart Will Rhodes who edged behind for 10, but that wicket came from one of precious few chances. In addition to a couple of weak LBW shouts and an edge or two that fell short of the cordon, Pieter Malan was dropped low down at second slip in the only other clear-cut opportunity, and ominously, Warwickshire scored freely throughout the session, with Rob Yates finding the boundary more than once with straight drives past the non-striker's stumps. On 95-1 at lunch, it was unquestionably the home side's morning.

Afternoon: A breakthrough was needed, and after an uncharacteristically expensive morning, Ed Barnard provided it with the fifth delivery after the restart, getting a length ball outside off to nip back and strike the stumps while Malan shouldered arms, bowled for 32. Having already tied down one end and done his bit to strangle the run-rate, Brett D'Oliveira was then rewarded when Sam Hain went for a clumsy sweep and was bowled round his legs for 8. After more hard work in the field, a third scalp came courtesy of Leach coaxing a bit of extra bounce from a ball that Matt Lamb nicked behind for 11, and the Bears went in for tea on 198-4, still the happier of the sides, but facing a Pears fightback.

Evening: If dropped catches cost matches, this seemed a day when Worcestershire were determined to test that thesis to its utmost; before completing his half-century, Bears wicketkeeper Michael Burgess had an absolute dolly shelled at second slip, and would still be around at day's end to tell the tale. But thankfully there were wickets elsewhere to compensate, with Dolly accounting for centurion Rob Yates when he attempted to cut a ball and feathered into the keeper's gloves for 104. In the gathering gloom after six o'clock the second new ball was taken, and Barnard got a straight length delivery to seam away from Tim Bresnan, who was caught behind for 20. The pressure grew and grew with the tail exposed, and newcomer Olly Stone became the first victim of the season for the returning Josh Tongue when he tried to drive a full ball and lost his stumps for a duck; it should have become two in two when Danny Briggs edged his first ball to slip, but yet again the catch went down, and the Bears survived to stumps on 271-7. Another even session on a day which still marginally belonged to Warwickshire, with the Pears a wicket or two behind where they'd have wanted to be after putting the hosts in to bat, and left to rue the three big drops that would have seen them all out. But as things stand, the visitors are still well in the game, and will hope to contain or dismiss Burgess early in the morning before mopping up the tail as quickly as possible.

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Day Two

Morning: On a sunny day that remained chilly in the shade, an hour passed before the first breakthrough, with Josh Tongue getting a ball to nip back on Danny Briggs and dismiss him LBW for 24. Yet another drop cost him the chance to send Liam Norwell packing for a duck, though the opportunity to claim maximum bowling points had already gone, and the tail-ender's wicket was eventually claimed for 9 with an Alzarri Joseph yorker. Having allowed the Bears to bat on too long with careless fielding, it was a good catch at cover off the bowling of Ed Barnard that finally wrapped up the innings, with Michael Burgess the man to go for 101 as Warks were all out for 343. The plague of drops was evidently contagious, as Jake Libby was shelled at first slip almost immediately in the Pears reply, but he and Daryl Mitchell survived a hostile spell to reach lunch on 12-0.

Afternoon: After looking relatively untroubled for the first forty minutes of the session, Daryl Mitchell was deceived by a delivery that kept low and jagged back, and was adjudged LBW for 12. A lengthy rebuild followed, and was progressing well - helped along by yet another Libby half-century - until Tom Fell chased after a ball outside off stump that wasn't there to be attacked, and was duly caught behind for 20, leaving the Pears 123-2 at tea.

Evening: Having reached a fluent yet hard-won 74, Libby was an early casualty of the final session, caught at short leg without adding to his score. New man Brett D'Oliveira survived a couple of chances as he made a start, but never really got into his rhythm, and after slashing a Will Rhodes delivery away for four was caught behind off the very next ball for 15. Nevertheless, young Jack Haynes looked in good touch as he seized his first opportunity of the season with gusto, keeping the scoreboard ticking and bringing up the third first-class fifty of his career shortly before close with a sumptuous cover-drive. Worcestershire closed on 198-4, narrowly claiming the day's honours, but with the weather forecast for Saturday still suggesting that this absorbing and even contest between the two West Midland rivals is doomed to lose a full day's play, it'll take a meteorological miracle for the game to continue unfolding and reach a positive result one way or the other.

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Day Four

Morning: After the third day was entirely lost to rain, Sunday brought a bit of welcome sunshine and warmth through the clouds. Riki Wessels fell in the first over of the day, edging a Tim Bresnan ball high to second slip for 17. New man Ben Cox took a positive approach, and scored 23 off 33 deliveries before the new ball trapped him LBW. But Jack Haynes and Ed Barnard stuck together at the crease, and it was once again Worcestershire's session as with just two wickets falling for ninety runs, the Pears reached the interval on 288-6.

Afternoon: On 87 and looking more than good for his maiden first-class century, it was a heartbreaking and disastrously unlucky end for Haynes when Liam Norwell deflected a straight drive onto the non-striker's stumps, and the twenty-year-old was run out backing up; a decision that even the umpire seemed sorry to give. Alzarri Joseph came in with a first-ball six, and after bringing up the third batting point, a short spell of excitement followed as Worcestershire set about chasing a fourth batting point at eight runs an over. Barnard completed another half-century in the process, and Joseph was instrumental to the acceleration with a run-a-ball 17 including a lofted four through mid-off that bounced just short of the rope, before he went for one hit too many and was caught at long-on. With the charge wobbling and Warwickshire only needing one more wicket for an extra bowling point, Joe Leach picked up an early boundary through cover point to make the target eight off the last over, and after two dot balls to begin the 110th, a splendid cover-drive to the rope from Barnard was followed by a mad flash that nicked the toe-end of the bat, flew over the slips and gave Worcs the all-important fourth point. After blocking the last couple of balls to deny Warks their last bonus point, and adding a few more runs for good luck, Worcestershire declared on 364-8 with a lead of 21. Early breakthroughs raised the slender hope of a positive result, with Rob Yates feathering behind for 5 off Leach and Pieter Malan edging to first slip for 28 off Joseph, but on 45-2 at tea, it was obvious that only a total collapse in the next hour would change the outcome.

Evening: There was no collapse, of course, though Joseph had time to claim one more scalp when Will Rhodes slashed a ball straight to backward point for 25; the now-familiar fist-bump brought an early end to proceedings once again, and Worcestershire notched up their fifth consecutive draw.

Match DRAWN

The Verdict: Another weekend, another draw, though this time it was the weather rather than the pitch to blame. All in all, the sterling final-day efforts that ensured Worcestershire gained a point on their rivals made this a decent outing for the Pears, which might not have been the case after the clown-shoes catching on Thursday. Though we were denied what promised to be a close and compelling contest by the rain, here's hoping the return fixture in July will compensate. For now, Worcs have to carry the quest for a first win of the season up to this year's dark horses, Durham.

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Halfway through this red-ball group campaign, Worcestershire have contrived to remain both unbeaten and winless due to a five-game streak of stalemates that's kept the Pears well in contention within the group, but could rapidly see them slip away with just one or two bad results. In that promising yet precarious situation, the county face a rejuvenated Durham this weekend in a real crunch match.

Due to the county's strict rotation policy, Alzarri Joseph will be rested in favour of a homegrown pace attack. Having come so close to a maiden century last week, it's unlikely that Jack Haynes will be displaced, and fitness permitting, the top order should thus remain unchanged.

The major run-scorer for Durham this season has been David Bedingham, with the wicket-taking threat coming principally from Brydon Carse and Chris Rushworth, though the presence of Mark Wood is a daunting sight too. Will Young is set to make his last appearance before joining the New Zealand touring squad; Cameron Bancroft waits in the wings to replace him. The bowlers will be well rested after last weekend's break, but Worcestershire will hope that the opposition are a bit rusty with bat and ball alike as they search for an elusive win on a weekend when the weather gods may just allow a positive result.

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County Championship, Group One

vs Durham

Day One

Morning: Pears won the toss and put Durham in to bat on a misty, moisty May morning with no play across the majority of the country. As has often been the case with these decisions recently, one early breakthrough - that of Will Young being dismissed LBW for 5 by Joe Leach - didn't trigger a general clatter of wickets, despite the ball beating the bat and whizzing past the stumps with low bounce numerous times. Charlie Morris, who asked the most questions of the batsmen in the first hour, was rewarded shortly before noon when Scott Borthwick edged low to third slip for 4; however, new man David Bedingham and opener Alex Lees kept the Worcs attack at bay until lunch, undoubtedly the happier of the sides on 80-2.

Afternoon: The third wicket Worcestershire would have wanted in the morning came instead in the opening stages of the afternoon, and it was a huge scalp as the country's leading run-scorer, Bedingham, edged Morris low to first slip for 24. Durham continued to battle on a pitch that was causing them trouble, with Lees making his half-century soon after, but when a full and fierce delivery smashed into Jack Burnham's front pad and sent him packing LBW for 23, Josh Tongue had arrived at the party. With the first delivery of his very next over the paceman flicked Ned Eckersley's hip and wheeled away in celebration for a catch behind that wasn't; perhaps piqued by that embarrassment, he then sent the following ball crashing from Eckersley's elbow onto the stumps for a duck. Ed Barnard got in on the action when he coaxed a little extra bounce from a ball that surprised Stuart Poynter, who lofted a simple edge to first slip for 1, and though Lees counter-attacked in response with some assistance from Brydon Carse, the opener came undone in the session's final over when he attempted to cut Joe Leach and nicked into the keeper's gloves for an agonising 99. Five wickets turned Durham's morning into Worcestershire's afternoon, and at 183-7 the pendulum had swung firmly in favour of the Pears overall.

Evening: With Durham still two runs short of a bonus point, Tongue raised hopes of a quick demolition of the tail when he sent Ben Raine's leg stump cartwheeling out of the ground for 8 with a straight ball that the batsman simply shuffled out the way of as he attempted a flick off the hip. But Carse and Mark Wood were tenacious in their resistance, and held on until the second new ball when Tongue demolished Wood's middle stump for 12; the home side closed in on a second bonus point, but there was just no stopping Tongue as he had Chris Rushworth chop on for 2, bowling Durham out for 246 and completing his first five-fer in the two years since he ploughed through the same opposition in May 2019. With the floodlights on and the skies gloomy, Worcestershire were then fortunately spared a trial by fire as the umpires called bad light after just three overs of the reply, leaving the visitors 6-0 at close of play. The forecast for Friday suggests cloud cover but no rain, and there's still every chance that Durham may turn 246 into a good score with some aggressive bowling; this was Worcestershire's day, but with the potential for many a twist and turn to come.

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Day Two

Morning: Gloomy, louring Friday skies offered the Durham attack all the help they could possibly desire early in the day, with Daryl Mitchell LBW to an inswinger for 5 and Jake Libby edging behind for 24 off Ben Raine. The third-wicket pair fought hard under the floodlights, but Jack Haynes soon came undone as he was given LBW for 8 to Chris Rushworth, leaving Tom Fell and Brett D'Oliveira to battle their way to lunch on a far-from-ideal 60-3.

Afternoon: However far from ideal 60-3 may have been, it was to get a whole lot worse after the break. Dolly was the first to go, LBW for 10, before Fell (who'd been dropped on 40) finally ran out of luck and was bowled for 44 by Brydon Carse. After a couple of early boundaries, Riki Wessels was also bowled for 13 by Rushworth, who then dismissed Ed Barnard LBW for 1, and the collapse was all but complete when Ben Cox nicked behind for 2, leaving the Pears 126-8 and staring at a huge first-innings deficit. However, not for the first time this season, Joe Leach came in and played a real skipper's innings to shepherd the tail, frustrate the bowlers and shift the score on. He was ably supported by Josh Tongue until the latter was bowled for 17 by Carse; at 158-9 the work still wasn't done, and the last-wicket partnership went on to surpass the previous best for a Worcs tenth-wicket stand against Durham, narrowly beating the 54 posted by Stuart Lampitt and Alamgir Sheriyar at Kidderminster in August 2001, before Charlie Morris was bowled for 21 by Rushworth to close the session with the Pears all out for a competitive 213.

Evening: There was already a suspicion that batting was an easier task after the Worcestershire tail wagged, and sure enough, only one wicket fell in the evening as Morris yorked Alex Lees with an inswinger for 12. Will Young and Scott Borthwick were comfortable at the crease from that point on, reaching stumps with the score on 79-1, the lead standing at 112.