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Jake Libby leads the way as Worcestershire take command at New Road

Jake Libby tucks off the pads PA Images via Getty Images

Worcestershire 378 for 6 (Libby 77, Cox 52*, Morris 50) lead Leicestershire 222 by 156 runs

Leicestershire's acting captain Callum Parkinson reached 50 first-class wickets in a season for the first time but Jake Libby's fine 77 helped Worcestershire gain the upper hand on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at New Road.

Slow left armer Parkinson reached the milestone when he had Jack Haynes stumped shortly after tea to give him his third wicket of the innings.

The 24-year-old had limited opportunities previously in his career in red-ball cricket and five campaigns had yielded only 54 wickets although he has been a key member of the Foxes' T20 attack with a season's best haul of 21 wickets in 2021.

But Parkinson has fully seized his opportunity this summer in the longer format although his side had to play second fiddle for long periods against Libby and Co as Worcestershire closed on 378 for 6 - a lead of 156.

He completed 1,000 runs for the summer on Tuesday evening and lifted his overall tally to 1,072, a figure only currently surpassed by Sussex's Tom Haines.

Libby received excellent support from nightwatchman Charlie Morris, who scored his maiden Championship fifty, and there were useful contributions down the order.

Worcestershire resumed on 30 for 1 and Morris on 9 was dropped at first slip off Chris Wright but it was one of few moments of alarm during the morning session for the second-wicket pair.

Libby took advantage of some loose deliveries from Abidine Sakande to pick up three boundaries in one over.

Morris then repeated the same feat in an over from Wright before Libby reached a 72-ball half century with nine boundaries.

The century partnership came up in 30 overs and the last ball before lunch from George Rhodes enabled Morris to reach his fifty from 123 balls with his ninth boundary.

The morning session produced 108 runs from 30 overs but the picture changed after lunch. Morris was beaten by a quicker delivery from Parkinson and bowled in the first over after the resumption without addition to his score. The stand with Libby was worth 125 in 37 overs.

Wright bowled an impressive spell during the early part of the afternoon and was rewarded when Libby on 77 went back and looked to force the ball through the off side and nicked through to Louis Kimber at second slip.

Gareth Roderick had played two promising 40-plus knocks on a difficult pitch against Middlesex at Lord's last week and he continued in the same manner as the first batting point was secured in the 65th over.

Roderick had moved onto 35 before he was dismissed in an unfortunate manner. He inside-edged a delivery from Ed Barnes onto his boot and the ball ballooned up to Louis Kimber at second slip.

Parkinson struck in successive overs after tea as Brett D'Oliveira, 37, picked out short extra cover and Haynes on 44 was stumped after the ball bounced off keeper Sam Bates onto the wicket.

But Ed Barnard (44 not out) and Ben Cox (52 not out) overcame the second new ball - taken at 270 for 6 - and then pushed home Worcestershire's advantage against a tiring attack during a century stand in 24 overs.

County Championship

Division 1
TeamMWLDPT
NOTTS431068
LANCS421157
WARKS421156
HANTS421153
YORKS412140
SOM404014
Division 2
TeamMWLDPT
ESSEX430177
GLOUC431064
DURH311140
NHNTS412138
SUR301227
GLAM403123
Division 3
TeamMWLDPT
KENT440083
MIDDX431067
WORCS422049
LEICS412143
DERBS412142
SUSS404018
Group 1
TeamMWLDPT
NOTTS10424151
WARKS10415145
DURH10325132
ESSEX10325129
WORCS10136109
DERBS1005572
Group 2
TeamMWLDPT
SOM10415148
HANTS10424145
GLOUC10532131
SUR10226123
LEICS10244111
MIDDX1027184
Group 3
TeamMWLDPT
LANCS10415150
YORKS10514149
GLAM10226127
NHNTS10334123
KENT1003797
SUSS1015494