Worcestershire 152 for 2 (Mitchell 83*) trail Warwickshire 395 (Malan 141, Sibley 80, Rhodes 60, Sodhi 6-89) by 243 runs
Warwickshire claimed four batting points to strengthen their hopes of a top two finish in Group 1 of the LV= Insurance County Championship despite a six-wicket haul by spinner Ish Sodhi on his first-class debut for Worcestershire at New Road.
A half century from Bears captain Will Rhodes, with good support from Matt Lamb and the lower order, helped his side advance from their overnight 245 for 4 to 395 all out.
Sodhi, an ever-present for Worcestershire Rapids during their Vitality Blast campaign, marked his first ever red-ball game in England by taking the last five wickets and the New Zealander ended with figures of 6 for 89 from 30.2 overs.
Worcestershire opener Daryl Mitchell then hit his highest score of the summer - an unbeaten 83 - as his side reached 152 for 2 on a still flat pitch.
The second new ball almost brought an instant reward this morning for Worcestershire Club Captain Joe Leach as Lamb edged a delivery he tried to leave alone which flew just past Mitchell at second slip.
Runs initially flowed freely and Rhodes struck rookie spinner Josh Baker for six over mid-wicket on his way to an 85-ball half century.
His stand with Lamb was worth 93 in 26 overs but Baker had his revenge when Rhodes on 60 went for a similar big hit and picked out Jake Libby.
Sodhi settled into a good rhythm and claimed wickets in successive overs before lunch.
Michael Burgess (4) was bowled by a fine turning delivery and then Lamb, having made 44, pushed forward and was lbw.
But the Bears were able to collect a fourth batting point before Sodhi wrapped up proceedings with a trio of scalps during the afternoon session.
Jake Lintott (15) could only find Tom Fell at short leg, Craig Miles (16) was caught by keeper Ben Cox down the legside and Ryan Sidebottom (1) went for a pull and was lbw.
Mitchell launched the Worcestershire reply with a flurry of boundaries in partnership with Jake Libby.
He on drove Liam Norwell for four and cover-drove Miles for two successive boundaries. The half century stand came up in only 13.4 overs of which Mitchell's contribution was 36.
Worcestershire reached 68 for 0 at tea before Libby (22) and Tom Fell (2) both went lbw to Norwell and occasional spinner Rob Yates respectively within the first four overs after the resumption.
Mitchell completed a half century - his fourth in the Championship this summer - with a single off Miles. It came off 91 balls with five fours.
New batsman Jack Haynes was back in the side for the first time since recovering from an ankle injury suffered in training during early June and he looked in good touch in making an unbeaten 42.
Ish Sodhi
Will Rhodes
Daryl Mitchell
Warwickshire
Worcestershire
Warwickshire vs WORCS
County Championship
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