Northamptonshire 2XI took three wickets in the evening session to limit Worcestershire 2XI to 265/4 despite a century from opener Taylor Cornall on the first of four days at Geddington Cricket Club.

Worcestershire won toss and elected to bat and made use of the conditions, as Gareth Roderick and Taylor Cornall saw watchfully through Northamptonshire’s opening bowlers and reached their 50 partnership in the 22nd over. James Sales proved particularly miserly, his opening two spells conceding just 5 runs in 8 overs.

It was a fruitless morning session for Northamptonshire’s bowlers, despite tight lines and general control and it wasn’t helped by rain as the players were brought in for an early lunch due to bad weather.

The poor weather passed during the interval and Worcestershire began the afternoon session on 78/0 after 29 overs of play.

The batting side continued their cautious but secure start as both openers reached their half centuries and brought up the 100 partnership in the 41st over.

However, three overs later, Northamptonshire made the breakthrough via Simon Kerrigan as the spinner forced a looping top edge from Roderick, giving Charlie Hood behind the stumps a simple catch to break the 116-run partnership.

Worcestershire continued their steady progress however as Cornall and Raheen Edavalath put on an unbeaten 57 run partnership to guide the side to 173/1 by Tea.

Justin Broad made an instant impact for Northamptonshire after the break however, as the all-rounder removed Edavalath for 25 after the batsmen edged through to Charles Hood in the third over of the evening session.

Opener Taylor Cornall reached after his century after 224 deliveries as Worcestershire brought up their 200 but there was another rain delay, as the players headed off for a short spell for the second time in the day, but with an hour to go, Worcestershire resumed on 221/2.

George Weldon made use of the restart, with the seamer taking his first wicket in the second over after play had resumed as he continues his positive return from an ankle injury. Weldon forced an edge from Nikhil Gorantla to give Wicketkeeper Charles Hood his third catch of the game.

Another wicket fell five overs later as James Sales got the big wicket of Cornall, bowling the 24 year old for 128 and restricting Worcestershire to 230/4.

Joe Leach was able to hit an unbeaten 28 from 37 after the dismissal of Cornall as Worcestershire 2XI ended the first day on 265/4 at Geddington CC.