Lancashire bolstered their survival hopes in the Vitality County Championship Division One after a strong bowling display from Tom Bailey and Anderson Phillip against Worcestershire at New Road. The duo capitalised on favourable conditions to reduce the hosts to 22 for 5, and later 56 for 7, after play started post-lunch due to rain.
Lancashire skipper Keaton Jennings' decision to bowl first was validated as both Bailey and Phillip tore through the Worcestershire batting lineup. Each bowler claimed three wickets, providing the perfect start in a match Lancashire must win to stay in the top division. Bailey, bowling eight consecutive overs, returned outstanding figures of 3 for 9, while Phillip’s seven overs yielded 3 for 44.
Lancashire began the day 15 points behind Nottinghamshire in their battle to avoid relegation. Their recent victory over Somerset at Old Trafford had kept them in the hunt for survival. In contrast, Worcestershire, having already secured their safety with three wins in four matches, made a partial recovery late in the day thanks to an eighth-wicket stand between Matthew Waite and Logan van Beek. They added 63 runs in just seven overs before rain intervened again, washing out the final session.
Worcestershire made two changes to their lineup, with Waite and Jack Home stepping in for the injured Tom Taylor and spinner Amar Virdi. Lancashire fielded the same side that had beaten Somerset. Bailey struck early, with his second ball of the match removing Gareth Roderick, who edged to fourth slip after driving at a full delivery. Phillip soon followed up by dismissing Jake Libby, who nicked one to third slip, and then bowled Rob Jones with a swinging full-length delivery.
Kashif Ali and Brett D'Oliveira both fell to Bailey, leaving Worcestershire reeling at 39 for 6. Ethan Brookes was next to go, bowled by Bailey as he played forward to a ball that moved away just enough to clip his stumps. Phillip returned to replace Bailey after his brilliant opening spell and quickly picked up his third wicket when Adam Hose, attempting an on-drive, edged to Jennings at second slip.
Waite responded with an aggressive counterattack, smashing two sixes off Will Williams, while van Beek joined in by hitting maximums off Balderson and Williams. The eighth-wicket pair’s quickfire partnership lifted Worcestershire’s score to 119 for 7 by tea, but the rain returned, cutting short what had been a dominant day for Lancashire’s bowlers.