Whiteley, Cox battle for scraps

Worcestershire 172 for 4 (Whiteley 78*, Cox 52*) trail Somerset 565 for 5 dec by 393 runs
Scorecard

Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox hit half centuries as Worcestershire battled hard on a rain-affected third day of the LV=County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton.

Only 22 overs were possible after heavy rain delayed the start until mid afternoon. Whiteley and Cox batted through them with few alarms and Worcestershire closed on 172 for 4 in their first innings, trailing the hosts by 393.

Whiteley was unbeaten on 78, with Cox 52 not out and their partnership worth 139. With more rain forecast tomorrow, a match important to the First Division survival of both clubs looks to be heading for a draw, but Worcestershire, threatened by relegation, need every point they can get.

After heavy rain overnight and during the morning, play eventually got underway at 3.30pm, with the initial loss of 53 overs. Worcestershire resumed on 44 for 4.

In the third over of the day left-hander Whiteley, who began on eight, saw up the 50 with a boundary off Lewis Gregory.

Neither Cox, who also started on eight, nor Whiteley looked at all troubled by the Somerset bowlers. It was the former who brought up three figures for Worcestershire when he pushed a single to the on side off Jamie Overton.

Whiteley drove strongly throughout and attacked from the off. He went to his half-century in style with a six over mid wicket off Gregory in the 31st over, the runs coming off 68 balls with 10 fours and one six.

More rain started to fall and the players left the field for an early tea by which time Worcestershire had moved onto 135 for four off 33.4 overs, Whiteley unbeaten on 61 and Cox 39 not out.

After several attempts to start play were thwarted by showers, the game finally restarted at 6.10pm with seven overs remaining.

Cox took advantage of a loose over from Gregory and two boundaries saw him to his half-century, which came off 58 balls with nine fours and a six.

By the time play ended with Worcestershire edging closer to their first batting point, Whiteley had faced 101 balls extending his boundary count to 14 fours and a six.

Cox had faced 73 deliveries and their counter-attacking partnership from a perilous position had seen 139 added in just 25.5 overs.