Worcestershire openers Daryl Mitchell and Stephen Moore rediscovered their batting touch in marvellous style at Harrogate as they put the Bradford & Leeds UCCE students to the sword, writes Graham Winbury.
Mitchell hit an unbeaten double century as he helped put on 345 for the first wicket with Moore. And only the fact that this game is not deemed a first-class fixture stopped it breaking the county record for the best opening partner-ship in Worcestershire's 107-year history.
The patient Mitchell, who hit his first double hundred in grade cricket Down Under in Perth this winter, ended up with another on 210 not out, with Ben Smith unbeaten on 23, when the visitors declared on 500 for two.
The only two Worcester-shire wickets lost were that of Moore, who finally departed for 165 after being caught on the long on boundary, and captain Vikram Solanki, who hit 14 fours in making 69 just 46 balls in helping to put on 111 for the second wicket.
Worcestershire claimed a wicket too when, with his first ball, off spinner Gareth Batty had the students' opener Sam Redditch caught in the gully to leave the home side on 44 for one at the close. n The Second XI Champion-ship match between Warwickshire and Lancashire at Moseley stands well poised going into the third and final day.
An impressive spell of off-spin bowling by young trial-ist, Rob Foster (four for 37) helped dismiss Lancashire for 214 in their first innings. Adam Shantry (two for 28) and Naqaash Tahir (two for 31) also bowled well as Warwickshire earned a first-innings lead of 59.
Halesowen's young wicket-keeper Ian Stevenson was drafted in to replace Tony Frost.
In their second innings, however, Warwickshire struggled to 163 for nine, with Sam Sneadon (55) and Shantry (37) providing the only meaningful resistance. Warwickshire's overnight lead is 222.
