Worcestershire all-rounder Tom Taylor said his side have their first-innings batting total of 358 to thank, as they look to advance the Rothesay County Championship fixture against Essex into Day Three.
After securing two batting points and putting on their best bowling display of the season, the home side wobbled late on Day Two as they closed on 58-5, still carrying a substantial lead of 259 into the close, however.
“Having that big first innings score behind us gave us a massive confidence boost as we went out to field, we spoke about stacking some pressure up and making things happen – I felt like we did that today.
“A little bit of everything helped contribute for us today. A little bit of bowling, a little bit of good fielding and some good use of the pitch helped both seam and a bit of spin
“It is nice to get that feeling as a group that all the parts are coming together, the pitch is helpful if you put the ball in the right area, and we continued to do that I felt.
For the first time this season, the Pears seam quintet of Taylor, Waite, Allsion, Singh and Brookes, came together in unison to apply constant pressure on the visitors’ batting line-up.
After Robin Das high scored with 44, the Essex card made for grim reading. Shane Snater held the next highest score with 20, as the home side’s bowlers took regular wickets to keep themselves on top of the game throughout the day’s play.
In spite of their efforts to resist, Taylor was delighted with how the bowling unit’s clear plan came together and was supported by some top drawer fielding.
“We found that worked really well for us, hitting the seam then angling the ball away to try and take the edge. It brings the slips into play, but you still have to catch them and Brookesy did that today with a blinder. It was a great catch that.
“The first job was to get 10 wickets, and now we have done that by taking the majority of our chances.
“We now have to back it up tomorrow.”
Taylor, who has taken 18 wickets at an average on 29 so far this campaign, lent his side a big hand taking three crucial wickets during Essex’s first innings as they blew the visitors away for just 157.
The paceman however, is conscious that his side don’t rest on any loreals as they look to build a lead and take the game out of the visitors reach.
“It is a big lead, we want to be scrapping come Day Three and Four, the aim is to get as close to the 400 figure as we can.
“If we can bat well tomorrow and take our second innings score up somewhere near the 200 mark, we will make it really difficult for them to bat last.
“Our first innings score should be the highest score of the match, but that only matters if we turn up tomorrow and get started well.
