Jake Libby leads the way in which as Worcestershire take command at New Highway

Hosts lead by way of 156 regardless of milestone second for Callum Parkinson

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

Leicestershire’s appearing captain Callum Parkinson reached 50 firstclass wickets in a season for the primary time however Jake Libby’s tremendous 77 helped Worcestershire acquire the higher hand on day two of the LV=Insurance coverage County Championship fit at New Highway.

Sluggish left armer Parkinson reached the milestone when he had Jack Haynes stumped in a while after tea to present him his 3rd wicket of the innings.

The 24-year-old had restricted alternatives prior to now in his occupation in red-ball cricket and 5 campaigns had yielded simplest 54 wickets even though he has been a key member of the Foxes’ T20 assault with a season’s absolute best haul of 21 wickets in 2021.

However Parkinson has totally seized his alternative this summer season within the longer structure even though his facet needed to play moment mess around for lengthy sessions in opposition to Libby and Co as Worcestershire closed on 378 for six – a lead of 156.

He finished 1,000 runs for the summer season on Tuesday night and lifted his total tally to one,072, a determine simplest recently surpassed by way of Sussex’s Tom Haines.

Libby gained very good give a boost to from nightwatchman Charlie Morris, who scored his maiden Championship fifty, and there have been helpful contributions down the order.

Worcestershire resumed on 30 for 1 and Morris on 9 was once dropped in the beginning slip off Chris Wright nevertheless it was once certainly one of few moments of alarm throughout the morning consultation for the second-wicket pair.

Libby took benefit of a few free deliveries from Abidine Sakande to pick out up 3 limitations in a single over.

Morris then repeated the similar feat in an over from Wright sooner than Libby reached a 72-ball part century with 9 limitations.

The century partnership got here up in 30 overs and the final ball sooner than lunch from George Rhodes enabled Morris to achieve his fifty from 123 balls together with his 9th boundary.

The morning consultation produced 108 runs from 30 overs however the image modified after lunch. Morris was once crushed by way of a sooner supply from Parkinson and bowled within the first over after the resumption with out addition to his rating. The stand with Libby was once value 125 in 37 overs.

Wright bowled an outstanding spell throughout the early a part of the afternoon and was once rewarded when Libby on 77 went again and seemed to power the ball during the off facet and nicked via to Louis Kimber at moment slip.

Gareth Roderick had performed two promising 40-plus knocks on a troublesome pitch in opposition to Middlesex at Lord’s final week and he endured in the similar method as the primary batting level was once secured within the sixty fifth over.

Roderick had moved onto 35 sooner than he was once disregarded in an unlucky method. He inside-edged a supply from Ed Barnes onto his boot and the ball ballooned as much as Louis Kimber at moment slip.

Parkinson struck in successive overs after tea as Brett D’Oliveira, 37, picked out quick additional duvet and Haynes on 44 was once stumped after the ball bounced off keeper Sam Bates onto the wicket.

However Ed Barnard (44 no longer out) and Ben Cox (52 no longer out) overcame the second one new ball – taken at 270 for six – after which driven house Worcestershire’s benefit in opposition to a tiring assault throughout a century stand in 24 overs.