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Wood finds form - but is it too late for England?

Mark Wood showed his first Championship form of the season with five wickets at Chester-le-Street, but will that be in time to interest England's selectors ahead of the first Test?

Worcestershire 367 (D'Oliveira 122, Moeen 58, Wood 5-54, Pringle 4-73) lead Durham 197 (Tongue 4-41, Hastings 3-43) by 170 runs
Scorecard
Mark Wood proved his fitness for the Test series against South Africa by taking 5 for 54 before rain halted the second day's play in Durham's Specsavers County Championship match at home to Worcestershire.
The paceman took the visitors' final two wickets with the new pink ball, but not before they had established a lead of 170.
Brett D'Oliveira completed his century and Moeen Ali made 58 in Worcestershire's total of 367.
Prior to England one-day duty, Wood took 3 for 206 in two matches for Durham at the start of the season as he felt his way back from ankle surgery.
Looking sharper now, he had already taken three of the wickets when Worcestershire resumed on 213 for four. He completed his haul by knocking out Ed Barnard's off stump with his seventh delivery with the new ball before forcing last man Josh Tongue to fend a catch to short leg.
It was his penultimate, perhaps even his last, bowl before England's selectors meet to select the squad for the first Test against South Africa at Lord;s next week. The squad is due to be announced on Sunday.
Wood said: "The pink ball held together well but it seemed to go soft quickly, so I think the jury is still out. Moeen Ali said he struggled to time it because it wasn't coming off the pitch. Getting wickets is a big confidence boost for me. My rhythm wasn't there in early season, but I'm fine now."
There were four wickets for off-spinner Ryan Pringle, who had been treated with the utmost respect by Glamorgan last week but found himself under attack this time, conceding 73 in 12 overs.
In gloomy conditions, with the floodlights again on from the 2pm start, runs came briskly as Moeen played in carefree style.
When Durham posted a short extra cover he chipped Chris Rushworth over the fielder, but was fortunate as two inside edges took him to 50 off 59 balls.
D'Oliveira, who resumed on 91, drove Rushworth for three through extra cover to complete his 159-ball century with 15 fours and a six then top-edged Ben Stokes's second ball of the day over the wicketkeeper for another boundary. Stokes finished with none for 80.
When Pringle was introduced D'Oliveira hit him for four to mid-wicket then lifted a no-ball over long-on for six - counting eight - before whacking a full toss straight to cover to depart for 122.
Following the stand of 130, Moeen swiftly followed, missing a sweep in Pringle's next over to fall lbw.
Three wickets had gone down for six runs when George Rhodes sat back to cut and edged to wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter. Ross Whiteley was on one when he drove Pringle for a straight six as he and Ben Cox stopped the rot with a stand of 73.
In Pringle's final over before the new ball was due Whiteley tried to heave him over mid-wicket and was bowled for 43. Wood did the rest, leaving Cox unbeaten on 32.

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Specsavers County Championship Division Two

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