Worcestershire's Tom Taylor delivered a career-best performance, leading his side to enforce the follow-on against Warwickshire in their Vitality County Championship clash at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Taylor's devastating spell saw him take five wickets in just six overs, as Warwickshire were bowled out for 128 in 42.2 overs during their first innings. The 29-year-old finished with exceptional figures of 6 for 28, surpassing his previous best of 6 for 47 achieved while playing for Leicestershire against Sussex in 2019. Warwickshire collapsed after resuming on 112 for 4, losing six wickets for just 16 runs in 9.2 overs.
Taylor also claimed a wicket in Warwickshire's second innings after they were forced to follow on, 179 runs behind. His efforts brought his tally to 23 wickets in five Championship matches for Worcestershire. Despite a better resistance in the second innings, where Alex Davies and Will Rhodes both hit half-centuries, Warwickshire remained eight runs behind by the end of the day, with wickets falling to Matthew Waite, Ethan Brookes, and Taylor.
Warwickshire began their day in deep trouble, trailing by 195, and Taylor's fiery bowling soon compounded their problems. He quickly struck in the morning session, dismissing Hamza Shaikh with his second delivery, caught by keeper Gareth Roderick. Michael Burgess then edged a Taylor delivery to Brookes at second slip.
Taylor’s third over proved decisive as he took two wickets with his first two deliveries. Danny Briggs was trapped lbw, followed by Michael Rae, who was bowled. Taylor had taken four wickets in just 13 balls, and Oliver Hannon-Dalby was the next victim, yorked by Taylor to complete his career-best figures. Warwickshire's innings ended when Ed Barnard holed out to Brett D'Oliveira at deep midwicket.
Worcestershire enforced the follow-on, with van Beek and Matthew Waite sharing the new ball. Waite made an immediate impact, dismissing Rob Yates lbw with an in-swinger in his first over.
Although the pitch continued to offer assistance to seamers, Alex Davies and Will Rhodes fought back with determination. Davies, who had recently become the first player to score 1,000 Division One runs this season, played some fine shots, reaching his half-century from 73 balls. He and Rhodes shared a century partnership, adding 115 runs before Brookes dismissed Davies, who played onto his stumps for the second time in the match.
Brookes bowled an excellent post-lunch spell, giving away only five runs from seven overs, including four maidens. After tea, Taylor returned to the attack and trapped Sam Hain lbw just before the rain arrived, ending play for the day with Warwickshire still trailing by eight runs.