Lyndon James and Calvin Harrison starred as Nottinghamshire enjoyed a productive second day against Worcestershire at Trent Bridge.
James (96) came within touching distance of a fine century, while Harrison (52) posted his best ever First Class score before taking three wickets to pile pressure on the visitors.
Wickets in the first two overs from Luke Fletcher and Dillon Pennington gave the hosts just the start they wanted in the field, the Pears responding through a splendid 90-run knock from Rob Jones in an entertaining second-day battle as they posted 220/6 at stumps.
Harrison and James came out in the morning session with the objective of strengthening the existing first innings score of 305/6, set largely by Joe Clarke’s 105 and Ben Slater’s 70 on day one, and the pair picked their battles well to each clinch their first batting milestones of the season.
They mustered 146 runs between them from 292 deliveries, the largest partnership of the innings, to lead a vital recovery from the first-day losses of Clarke and Slater and provide fierce resistance to an attack comprising of Adam Finch, Josh Baker and Brett D’Oliveira.
Harrison, reaching a First Class best of 52, was eventually caught deep in the field by Jake Libby, and Liam Patterson-White was dismissed eight balls later by D’Oliveira via his leg pad.
In came Luke Fletcher who, making his first appearance of the season, helped himself to a maximum before being run out by D’Oliveira, as Dillon Pennington entered for the final stand of the innings.
James came within just four runs of a fourth First Class hundred, but fatally latched onto Finch’s full toss delivery to be caught at mid-wicket by Baker, ending Nottinghamshire’s first innings on 399.
It was then the hosts’ turn to make use of the ball in-hand. What was only the third delivery of the innings was followed by ecstatic cheers as Luke Fletcher struck the pad of Gareth Roderick to mark his return to red-ball cricket with aplomb.
Dillon Pennington then joined in on the act in the following over, Calvin Harrison stealing the limelight with arguably the moment of the match so far as he reacted at lightning pace to complete a sensational low diving catch at third slip to dismiss Jake Libby for 2.
Rob Jones stepped in to steady the ship for Worcestershire alongside Kashif Ali, weathering the early storm with a 78-run partnership as the visitors battled back in similar style to Notts’ first innings.
Contrary to what was an assured performance at the crease, the third wicket fell when Ali took a erroneous swipe at Pennington’s bouncing delivery, allowing Jack Haynes to pounce forward for a smart low catch as Ali fell ten runs short of a half-century at 82/3.
Rob Jones and Adam Hose resumed play after tea for the Pears, with Calvin Harrison and Luke Fletcher occupying each end in an attempt to force more wickets before the close of play.
Harrison remained persistent despite his lack of fortune in the previous session, and his show of perseverance reaped its just rewards as he teased Adam Hose into slicing his delivery, taking the catch himself to get off the mark with the ball.
Jones continued to tally more important runs for the visitors, and looked well on his way in his quest for a fine century.
But Harrison had other ideas, and in the 54th over of the innings Jones - on 90 - found the all-rounder’s delivery all too tempting, pushing straight back to Harrison who leapt swiftly to the ground for another caught-and-bowled.
The 25-year-old took no time to add another to his tally; two balls, to be exact. Jason Holder was his third and final victim of the day as first slip Ben Duckett took a simple catch from the West Indies international’s mistimed push, leaving Worcestershire 186/6.
Nathan Smith then paired with D’Oliveira to add another 34 before stumps was eventually called. The visitors trail by 179 ahead of the third day of what, so far, has been a highly competitive contest in West Bridgford.
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