County Championship: Battling Worcestershire complete thrilling three-day win over Leicestershire

Home skipper Brett D'Oliveira (left) and Adam Finch saw Worcestershire home with an unbroken 34-run stand

Adam Hose and Gareth Roderick both hit fifties and captain Brett D'Oliveira batted for more than three hours before hitting the winning runs as Worcestershire pulled off a remarkable three-day, three wicket victory over Leicestershire.

Set 271 to win, the highest score of the game, the odds were in the Foxes' favour after Worcestershire lost two wickets for two runs on Friday evening on a pitch of variable bounce.

But Hose struck a fluent 84 and Roderick dug in for more than five hours for an equally crucial 59, before D'Oliveira battled away for 137 deliveries for his 41 not out.

Wiaan Mulder did his best to pull the game out of the fire for Leicestershire with a haul of 4-69 to add to five-fors against Derbyshire and Sussex in the previous two games.

But Worcestershire showed immense character to fight back so well after being bowled out for 83 in just 21.1 overs on the first day.

They bowled out Leicestershire for 180 in their second innings, Joe Leach and Matthew Waite sharing nine wickets, then their batters showed tremendous application, epitomised by Hose.

After being pigeon-holed as a T20 specialist by Warwickshire, Adam Hose's 84 was his highest first-class score in four years

The former Somerset and Warwickshire man made the switch to New Road on a three-year deal during the winter, looking for more chance of playing red-ball cricket.

He had not played a Championship game for three years since the end of the 2019 season and become pigeon-holed as a T20 specialist, having been third top Blast scorer in 2022 before doing well down under for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash.

He had shown his capabilities in Championship cricket in the Pears' previous home game against Sussex when, against fired-up England paceman Ollie Robinson, who took 14 wickets, Hose made 59 and 41.

It looked like he might make three figures this time but his stand of 131 in 37 overs with Roderick came to an end when he pushed forward to Mulder and was caught behind.

Roderick was then dropped at slip off Chris Wright before Colin Ackermann this time claimed a second chance off him at second slip off Mulder.

After the second new ball was taken at 206-5, Waite made a quickfire 22, but it was left to D'Oliveira and Adam Finch (12 not out) to see their side home with a stand of 34 to register the Pears' second win of the season.

Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson:

"Just thinking back 48 hours to the position we put ourselves in, to then actually win, was a remarkable achievement from the boys. My emotion when the winning hit was made was a little bit of disbelief, to be honest.

"The players showed an amazing amount of character, some real fight and they deserve it. They should be really proud of their efforts.

"They had some pretty honest chats with themselves after the first night and they gave themselves a task to try and put themselves in the game.

"It was quite a difficult wicket to score on at times but the boys showed incredible skill and incredible patience."

Leicestershire head coach Paul Nixon:

"Two heavy rollers back to back Worcestershire put on the pitch made a big difference in this game.

"I still think we were going well with a lead of 90 and then 60 for the first wicket in our second innings but then we had some soft dismissals. Those have ultimately cost us taking the game away from Worcestershire.

"We had them by the throat and we didn't finish it off. You work so hard to get into those positions and you've got to make sure you nail it for your side. Joe Leach bowled brilliantly, and kept Worcestershire in the game to a certain extent.

"I still felt we had enough runs. We bowled magnificently and were so relentless with our areas and we've fought, but Roderick's innings of 59 off 221 balls was a magnificent innings on that pitch."

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.