George Rhodes, Tom Fell and Ryan Gibson hit half centuries as Worcestershire Seconds fought back after being asked to follow on in the Championship match with Nottinghamshire Seconds at Stourbridge.
The County, with a reshuffled first innings batting line-up because of unavailability and illness, were bowled out for 133 – a deficit of 212.
But they showed much more resistance second time around and closed on 268-6 – a lead of 56 heading into the final day.
Worcestershire had resumed on 33-7 and lost Josh Dell for 25 – a fifth victim of Luke Wood – after 20 had been added.
But Steve Magoffin (28) and a last wicket stand of 52 between George Rhodes (14 not out) and Tom Fell (32) lifted the final total.
Worcestershire were asked to bat again and quickly lost skipper Ollie Westbury (4).
But Rhodes, in his more accustomed opening role, and Fell, back at number three, joined forces again and this time featured in a partnership of 105 in 26 overs.
Rhodes was eventually dismissed for 55 off 111 balls with six fours and Fell followed on 60 from 89 deliveries with six boundaries.
But, after the departure of Dell (10), more resistance came from Will Wade and triallist Gibson in a fifth wicket stand of 116 in 36 overs.
The Seconds reached 255-4 but lost two wickets in the closing overs of the day with Wade run out for 39 and Ben Twohig ousted for nought.
It left Gibson unbeaten on 75 and looking to again take the fight to the Nottinghamshire bowlers on the final day.
DAY TWO
WORCESTERSHIRE SECONDS – FIRST INNINGS CONTINUED
(overnight 33-7)
Dell c Keast b Wood 25
Magoffin c Gibson b Wyatt 28
Rhodes not out 14
Fell b James 32
Extras 27
Total (all out) 133 in 41 overs
FOW CONTINUED: 53, 81, 133
BOWLING
Footitt 15-10-10-3
Wood 11-2-44-5
Leverock 8-2-28-0
Wyatt 3-0-19-1
Patterson-White 2-0-11-0
James 2-0-5-1
WORCESTERSHIRE SECONDS – SECOND INNINGS (following on)
Rhodes b James 55
Westbury c Keast b Footitt 4
Fell b James 60
Dell b James 10
Wade run out (Ashraf) 39
Gibson not out 75
Twohig c Gibson b Libby 0
Richardson not out 4
Extras 21
Total (for six wickets) 268 off 80 overs
FOW: 11, 116, 136, 139, 255, 258
BOWLING
Footitt 12-3-40-1
Wood 8-2-29-0
Leverock 9-0-36-0
Patterson-White 22-1-71-0
James 14-2-43-3
Gibson 2-0-13-0
Libby 9-2-19-1
Budinger 2-0-4-0
