Bears just avoid the follow-on after tough second day

ETHAN Brookes' dazzling century and Khurram Shahzad's dynamic six-for left Worcestershire pressing for a much-needed Rothesay County Championship win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

- By BRIAN HALFORD

Brookes' career-best 140 (169 balls) against the club that released him lifted Worcestershire's first innings to 333 before Shahzad took six for 42 to send the home side all out for 184. Kai Smith struck 68 (100) and Beau Webster 57 (84) to narrowly avert the follow on but Worcestershire closed the second day on 31 without loss, 180 ahead.

Bottom of Division One, Brett D'Oliveira's side is strongly-placed to complete a victory that would open the survival race right up and have nerves jangling at a few clubs above them.

Worcestershire resumed on the second morning on 262 for eight with Brookes on 80 and the 24-year-old showed no nerves en route to a poignant century at his former home ground. His century, warmly applauded by supporters of both teams, was reached with a six and he went on to strike eight sixes - the second most in an innings by a Worcestershire batter, behind only Graeme Hick's 11 against Somerset at Taunton in 1988.