Sixteen wickets fell on an eventful opening day at New Road, as a four-wicket haul by Timm van der Gugten allowed Glamorgan, who had opted to bowl first, to dismiss Worcestershire for 267. But in the final session, Josh Tongue claimed 5/3 in nineteen balls as the home side reduced the visitors to 76/6.
The decision to bowl first was vindicated as the recalled Lukas Carey firstly bowled Daryl Mitchell with the third delivery of the day before Timm van der Gugten struck with the last ball of his third over as Tom Fell departed l.b.w. With the first delivery of his next over, Brett D’Oliveria edged to Aneurin Donald in the slips as Worcestershire slumped to 14/3 with Glamorgan claiming their first bonus point.
A recovery then began as firstly Joe Clarke and Ben Cox stabilised things as Worcestershire reached the 50-mark in the 18th over without further loss. But Michael Hogan bowled Clark as Worcestershire ended the morning on 97/4.
After lunch, van der Gugten made a further incision as Ross Whiteley departed courtesy of another catch by Donald, but Cox continued to find the ropes, as well as finding a steady ally in Ed Barnard, with the sixth wicket pair continuing to accumulate. Having posted a combative half-century, Cox looked like converting his fifty into a hundred, but on 93 he became van der Gugten’s fourth victim as Andrew Salter completed a fine catch.
Barnard continued the recovery mission in conjunction with his captain Joe Leach but with the total on 190 Hogan returned to have Leach l.b.w. With Salter delivering a frugal spell at the Pavilion End, the seamers rotated at the Diglis End with Carey removing Jack Shantry who was caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Chris Cooke. Josh Tongue then joined Barnard who completed his half-century as van der Gugten returned to the fray in search of a “five-for”. But Tongue belied his place in the order with a trio of fours.
Shortly after tea, Barnard departed for 60 as Hogan held a catch above his head as Salter claimed his first wicket with the home side on 246/9. Another boundary from Tongue saw Worcestershire secure a second batting point and after some further blows, Tongue departed to a tumbling catch on the cover boundary by Jacques Rudolph as Salter ended the Worcestershire innings on 267.
Glamorgan had 23 overs to face as Barnard and Leach shared the new ball, and eager to emulate the visiting attack with the new ball. But Nick Selman and Rudolph enjoyed better fortune at first, although a few edged strokes were played through the four-man slip cordon, besides a classical straight drive by Rudolph against Leach.
But with the total on 39, Leach bowled Selman, before Tongue claimed five wickets in as many overs as he bowled Will Bragg, had Colin Ingram caught by Whiteley and then saw Donald edge to Mitchell. Shortly afterwards David Lloyd departed to a catch by Clarke, before the young seamer completed his dramatic spell of 5/3 from 19 balls by having night-watchman van der Gugten caught by wicket-keeper Cox. Cooke then joined Rudolph to see Glamorgan to 76/6 at the close.