Zaib and Conway put Northants on top heading into day three at Worcester

A second century of the summer from Zaib, supported by a controlled 52 from James Sales saw the visitors establish an 89-run lead over Worcestershire, who’s fightback was led by Matthew Waite’s three for 31.

Bowled out for 289, seamer Harry Conway (3-19) ensured Northants took full control of the contest late in the day in a searing three wicket burst.

The Pears closed 55 for three, still trailing by 34 runs in their second innings, as the promotion-chasing visitors tightened their grip heading into day three.

Tom Taylor struck just three balls into the morning when he wrapped Ricardo Vasconcelos on the pad for 13, but skipper Luke Procter and Calvin Harrison pushed on for the visitors.

Harrison played offensively and helped add 50 for the second wicket, but his promising start was curtailed by Adam Finch for 24.

Northants were checked at 68 for three when Procter, who had not long been dropped by Adam Hose, edged Matthew Waite to third slip having faced 72 balls for his 21.

Zaib smashed two fours and a six in an over that cost 17 from spinner Usama Mir, but Northants lost a fourth wicket of the morning session when George Bartlett edged behind off Ben Allison cheaply.

With Northants 106 for four at lunch, Zaib registered a 66-ball half-century 30 minutes into the afternoon session as the visitors took control of the match.

Under clear skies Zaib and partner Sales made hay, as the middle-order batters scored at a fluent rate on their way to surpassing Worcestershire’s first innings score.

Zaib registered a second County Championship of the summer in fittingly exuberant style as he skipped down the wicket to slam a 14th four of his 137-ball innings.

The fifth wicket partnership was worth 133 as tea honed into view and Sales notched a controlled 50 of his own from 81 balls, but his 82nd delivery was his last as he edged former team-mate Taylor to slip.

Resuming the evening session 233 for five, Waite proved the catalyst for the hosts, taking two wickets in the space of three balls that ended Zaib’s superb 110 courtesy of a smart Dan Lategan catch in the deep and saw the back of Louis Kimber for a second ball duck.

Ben Sanderson was bowled by Mir for seven, whilst Lewis McManus, cleared to bat, made a handy late 30, taking Northants up to 289 before Allison wrapped up proceedings.

With 24 overs remaining in the day, Australian quick Conway produced a searing spell that ripped through Worcestershire’s top-order to leave them 34 for three.

Claiming the scalp of Lategan early on, a superb Zaib catch at midwicket accounted for Edavalath who was soon followed by Libby for 12, as Conway speared his side into the ascendency.

The seamer looked to have secured a fourth late on, only to be agonisingly denied after hitting the top of Adam Hose’s off-stump but failing to dislodge the bail, before play was suspended due to bad light at 6:50pm.

Reaction

Northants batter Saif Zaib: I am really delighted to get a hundred on that type of wicket. It was really tough up front and there was a few chances early on but it is always nice to capitalise on them. I feel like I have put the team in a nice position.

“I was a bit disappointed to get out like I did, I would have liked to have a got a few more but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

“It was great to get a couple of wickets late tonight, an 89 run lead on that wicket is great and we still have 40 runs to play with which we can hopefully use to capitalise on in the morning and put ourselves in the driving seat.”

Worcestershire bowling coach Richard Jones: “It’s probably been a tough day for us, end of play we are behind the game, but probably only one partnership away from getting back in the game.

“Dolly is in really good form and Hosey applied himself really well in the first innings and we are going to need both of those guys if we are going to get ourselves back in the game.

“We know how big that first hour is on Thursday, but we saw with how Saif played, if you get yourself in and bat time you can build an innings.

“With the ball I thought it was a decent effort, but that middle session has probably cost us.”