On day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship encounter at New Road, Leicestershire took two early wickets after Worcestershire set a daunting 271 total on a still-bowler friendly field.
Loan signing Josh Davey of Somerset struck twice in his opening over, stunning openers Azhar Ali – for a pair – and Ed Pollock.
Gareth Roderick and Jack Haynes made it to the end at 26 for 2, but the untrustworthy character of the ground means the Foxes will be favorites to win their second game of the season tomorrow.
Leicestershire had been bowled out for 180 earlier in the day, despite Joe Leach’s five-wicket haul and Matthew Waite’s Championship-best figures of 4 for 21.
It was Leach’s 16th five-for in his illustrious career, and Waite broke his previous best of 4 for 35 in the equivalent encounter last season.
Captain Lewis Hill’s patient 49 was primarily crucial for the visitors’ ability to set a difficult target on an unevenly bounced pitch.
Following the drama of day one, when 22 wickets fell, the game moved at a more leisurely pace for the opening half of the day as Leicestershire attempted to build on their 90-run first-innings lead.
When play resumed, there were two night watchers in the crease, but both were quickly taken out by Leach.
Davey could only assist Pollock at first slip with a delivery that bounced on him, and Will Davis was lbw working to leg.
More delight for Leach came when Colin Ackerman fenced at a delivery outside the off stump and Pollock finished the job.
Leach’s first effort produced good figures of 7-4-15-3, but Hill and Peter Handscomb established themselves over a 71-run partnership in 30 overs.
The two batted with caution and took few risks, allowing Leicestershire to build a significant lead on a pitch where the oddball still misbehaved.
Handscomb, on 11, had to withstand a delivery from Adam Finch that spat up a length and sailed into the off side, as well as a confident lbw appeal from Waite to the last ball before lunch.
The game began slowly, then Waite initiated a collapse that resulted in five wickets falling for 20 runs.
Hill was one run shy of a deserving half-century when he inside edged onto his stumps on his first over back into the attack.
Waite then struck three times in an over to break Handscomb’s resistance. Handscomb had battled away for 26 from 98 balls before aiming a shot on the leg side and being caught off a leading edge by Brett D’Oliveira sprinting back to deep mid off.
Wiaan Mulder attempted to push Waite off the back foot and was caught at second slip by Haynes, who then dismissed Tom Scriven with a great low one-handed effort to the following delivery. Rehan Ahmed was stumped by Leach as he tried for a powerful strike.
Worcestershire needed a strong start if they were to have any realistic hopes of chasing down their objective, but Azhar and Pollock both fell to unexceptional shots against Davey.
Azhar completed a pair when he took a stride forward, attempted to move the ball past midwicket, and edged low to first slip. Pollock too targeted a hit on the leg side, but the ball lobbed a nice catch to cover at 2 for 2.
Roderick and Haynes got their heads down, but there were signs of the heavy roller wearing off and batting getting more difficult before the premature end owing to terrible light and rain with 14 overs remaining.