A resilient Worcestershire side need 200 runs to beat a stronger looking Sussex after a rare and heroic bowling performance by the batsman Alexei Kervezee .
Worcestershire, chasing 247 for their first win of the season, ended on 47 without loss and will go into the last day as favourites. Tymal Mills, Sussex’s left-arm quick, did not bowl when Worcestershire batted again and is doubtful to appear in the match again because of his back injury.
Sachithra Senanayake, Worcestershire’s Sri Lankan slow bowler, took four wickets for 50 as Sussex were bowled out for 290 but his scalps came at the end of the innings. The man who set up a match-winning situation for his side was the very occasional Dutch off-spinner Kervezee.
The 25-year-old had taken only two first-class wickets in his career, at an average of 89.50, before this match and last season bowled only seven overs. He is playing for Worcestershire only because Moeen Ali has left to join up with England in the Caribbean. He scored a solid 93 on Monday and on Tuesday he took three wickets for 72 in 20 overs.
He turned the ball but what was most impressive for a player who had bowled only 38 overs in his life at this level was his patient control. He bowled very few poor deliveries and took the wickets of three important batsman.
Sussex, who trailed by 44 on the first innings, resumed on eight without loss in their second and lost Luke Wells in the second over of the day, caught at third slip by Alex Gidman off Charles Morris.
Matt Machan, who was dropped at slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore when he had made only four, put on 119 for the second wicket with his captain Ed Joyce, following their century stand in the first innings.
Kervezee came into the attack shortly before lunch and in his second over had Machan lbw playing across the line to a quicker and full delivery. Sussex were 131 for two after 34 overs at lunch.
After the break Kervezee, bowling from the sea end, reeled off another 12 overs and took the key wickets of Luke Wright and Joyce. The ball that dismissed Wright, who was caught at short-leg, lifted and jumped; Joyce, playing forward defensively, edged to second slip. That left Sussex in some trouble at 194 for five, just 150 on.
Ben Brown was bowled by Jack Shantry just before tea, Ashar Zaidi was caught at backward short-leg, as was Mills, Steve Magoffin edged to slip and Ajmal Shahzad was bowled for an enterprising 35.
