Worcestershire captain Brett D'Oliveira continued his impressive form with a fourth consecutive half-century since his return from injury, steering his team to 294 for 8 on the first day of their County Championship clash against Warwickshire at New Road.
Just a week earlier, D'Oliveira had rescued Worcestershire from a precarious 10 for 4 against Essex, where his crucial 68 helped his side recover to a total of 266 and eventually secure a 43-run win. This followed his knock of 97 in a home victory over Kent, and another 51 in the second innings against Essex. In similar fashion, he led the recovery here after arriving at the crease with his team struggling at 67 for 4 in challenging conditions, finishing with a top score of 76.
D'Oliveira was well-supported by Adam Hose, Matthew Waite, and Logan van Beek, with key partnerships of 49, 76, and 43 respectively. Waite also impressed with a fluent 53 on his return from nearly two months out due to a side strain.
Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Division One’s leading wicket-taker, continued his stellar season, adding three more wickets to bring his total to 46, while bowling with consistent accuracy.
Worcestershire handed a Championship debut to young pace bowler Jack Home, who recently signed a three-year contract after an impressive One-Day Cup campaign. Warwickshire made a single change, bringing in spinner Danny Briggs for Jacob Bethell.
Winning the toss, Warwickshire captain Alex Davies opted to bowl on a pitch where the bounce was unpredictable, especially from the New Road End. Hannon-Dalby struck early, removing Jake Libby with a delivery that nipped away, caught behind by Michael Burgess. Former Worcestershire allrounder Ed Barnard followed up by dismissing Kashif Ali, who had scored two centuries in the previous encounter at Edgbaston.
Gareth Roderick’s middle stump was knocked back by Michael Rae, and Ethan Brookes, promoted to No. 4, was lbw to Hannon-Dalby as the home side slumped to 67 for 4. D'Oliveira and Hose managed to stabilise the innings, guiding the team to 77 for 4 at lunch.
D'Oliveira brought up Worcestershire’s 100 by pulling Chris Rushworth for four. However, Hose’s patient knock of 33 ended when he edged Barnard to second slip, breaking a partnership of 49. Waite then played positively, striking four boundaries in quick succession off Barnard and reaching his fifty from 71 balls.
Waite's aggressive approach helped Worcestershire add 111 runs in the afternoon session, but his innings ended at 53 when Rae trapped him lbw, concluding a 76-run partnership with D'Oliveira.
D'Oliveira reached his fifty with a late cut-off Briggs and continued to build the innings with van Beek, adding 43 for the seventh wicket. However, his innings ended on 76 when Will Rhodes caught him at first slip by Rob Yates.
The second new ball brought further success for Warwickshire as Hannon-Dalby dismissed van Beek, again with Yates holding on at second slip.
Before the close, Worcestershire earned a valuable batting point as debutant Jack Home and Tom Taylor put together an unbroken stand of 52, with Home launching Barnard for the game’s first six backward of square.