Tom Taylor says his side must focus on building partnerships ahead of a crucial period at the start of day three of the Rothesay County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire, with the hosts currently 68 runs to the good with five second innings wickets in hand.
14 wickets fell across the duration of the second day’s play at Visit Worcestershire New Road and it was the hosts who left the field the happier of the two sides upon the completion of the Outlaws first innings, having bowled their opponents out for 208, leaving a deficit of just 25 runs to make up.
Taylor, as has often been the case this campaign, led the way for his team, returning figures of 4-70 from his 20-over spell, and says the game’s fast pace and helpful bowling conditions has aided both bowling attacks with the game having just reached the halfway stage in duration.
“It’s moving on quickly, isn’t it? I think that’s just the nature of the pitch, going back to the Dukes ball is one thing.
“I think the bowlers all bowled pretty well. Both them boys and we were; we were sort of over the moon to come back from, I think they were 50-odd for one, to bowl them out for around 200, we were happy with that.
“They bowled well and you know, put us under some pressure. Tonguey [Josh Tongue] showed his class, but now we’re looking for a few more partnerships to try and get a score.
“I felt like I struggled for rhythm at the start, definitely getting back into things having not bowled since that One Day Cup game for for one reason or another, but it was better today, so I was pleased to contribute and get those wickets towards the end.”
Having left the field in high spirits after such a resilient bowling effort, the afternoon and evening session did not go as many Worcestershire faithful would have foreseen, as the Pears’ top-order were blitzed by an impressive Josh Tongue spell, who helped reduce the hosts to 68-5.
The home side had an unbeaten partnership of 25 between Gareth Roderick and Ethan Brookes to thank as the pair guided things through to the close of play (called prematurely for bad light), 93-5, without any further damage.
With the two batters still at the crease and Nottinghamshire bowler Muhammed Abbas absent from the attack due to injury, Taylor, is confident that some substantial partnerships in the early stages of the third day can re-direct the course of match and help set their opponents a challenging fourth-innings total to chase down.
“We’ve spoke about it when we came off tonight that we’re just a couple of partnerships away from getting that score that we need, we’d at least like to scrape our our way up to sort of what they got, or try and get 200 and give them a 180 chase.
“I think that would put us in the game and give us and give our bowlers something to bowl at that hopefully we can defend.
“You never wish to see anyone injured, but obviously, with Bassey (Muhammad Abbas) going off with a sore back, it looks like it means that those partnerships that we look at a building tomorrow, perhaps might hopefully be slightly easier if Bass is not able to bowl for them. Obviously, he’s a great bowler.
“I think if we if we bat well and put those partnerships together tomorrow and then bowl well as a group, it’ll be a little tough chase on that pitch, especially with weather around and other factors.”
