The Sussex batsman Craig Cachopa was born in South Africa, captained the New Zealand Under-19 side and clutches a Portuguese passport, and he appeared to be contemplating his exotic background when he spilled three catches.
Sussex have won six of their last seven home matches against Worcestershire but they have much work to do against one of last season’s promoted sides.
Worcestershire’s adhesive batting, helped by dodgy fielding, gave them a first-innings lead, thanks to a century by Richard Oliver and a stubborn 93 from Alexei Kervezee. Cachopa dropped Oliver twice and Kervezee once and Worcestershire made the most of these let-offs to deepen the home side’s frustrations.
Worcestershire were bowled out for 389 just before the end of the second day, earning a first-innings advantage of 44. But they looked likely to concede a lead when they were 227 for six after the unlikely figure of Luke Wells had taken two wickets in four deliveries.
They had resumed on 45 without loss and were tested throughout the day by Sussex’s lively seam attack, operating on a bouncy pitch. Matt Hobden struck twice in successive overs in the morning to give his side an early edge. Running in from the sea end, he bowled the Worcestershire captain, Daryl Mitchell, who was half forward, and in his next over had Tom Fell caught behind by Ben Brown.
Worcestershire were 60 for two but resilient batting from Oliver and Alex Gidman, their new signing from Gloucestershire, carried them to 133 for two at lunch.
The batsmen had to negotiate not only Hobden but Tymal Mills, the left-arm quick who has come to Hove from Essex on a two-year contract, as well as Sussex’s best bowler, Steve Magoffin, and Ajmal Shahzad, whom they have signed from Nottinghamshire.
Oliver had made 55 when he chopped a delivery from Ashar Zaidi on to his stumps but the bails did not come off. He had added three more when he was dropped for the second time by Cachopa at slip.
After lunch Gidman had not added to his 29 when he was lbw to Magoffin and 137 for three soon became 153 for four when Tom Kohler-Cadmore was caught in the slips off Magoffin for nine.
Wells, bowling leg spin, broke a dogged fifth-wicket stand between Oliver and Kervezee when he dismissed the former for 101 and then had Ben Cox lbw for a duck.
Kervezee, dropped by Cachopa on 72, and then Gareth Andrew and Sachithra Senanayake dropped anchor. It became even more difficult for Sussex when Mills twice had to leave the field because of a back injury while in the middle of an over.
