Worcestershire Academy (Under 18) return to ECB County Championship Group Two action tomorrow (Tuesday) when they take on Cricket Wales at Panteg in the second of five three-day matches in the tournament.
The Academy, who topped the group last summer, drew their opening match against a more experienced Northamptonshire side at Bromsgrove School last week.
Four of the Worcestershire team in David Lategan, Nathan Jukes, Alfie Higgins and Ben Clements had their first ever taste of three-day cricket with Toby Cox and Fin Goodman only playing their second games.
Higgins will be looking to continue the form which brought him a splendid first innings century against Northamptonshire.
A 12 strong squad has been announced which will be skippered by Ben Clarke with Seth Essenhigh keeping wicket.
All three games in the opening round of fixtures ended in draws with Somerset-Wales and Warwickshire-Gloucestershire also sharing the spoils.
Worcestershire top the group on 13 points but only two points separate the six counties.
Worcestershire Academy
Louis Hursthouse
Toby Cox
Daniel Lategan
Fin Goodman
Nathan Jukes
Seth Essenhigh (w)
Alfie Higgins
Henry Hawes
Ben Clarke ©
Charlie Egerton
Josh Leach
Ben Clements
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*Worcestershire Academy lost by three wickets to Nottinghamshire in the quarter-finals of the ECB County Plate competition at Bromsgrove School.
Worcestershire were reduced to 22-4 after opting to bat but useful contributions from Ben Clarke (27), Chris Ellison (23), Seth Essenhigh (21) and Charlie Egerton (19 not out) lifted the final total to 156 all out from 40.4 overs.
Nottinghamshire also had to work hard for runs and were 37-3 and then 102-7 but an unbroken 55 between Jacob Hughes and Akand Gangotra saw them to victory in 38 overs.
Clarke (2-32), AU Azami (2-35), Leach (1-12), Ben Clements (1-14) and Egerton (1-40) were the Worcestershire wicket-takers.
