Panesar puts Sussex in control

LV County Championship Division One, New Road
Close, day two: Sussex 375, Worcestershire 199-7
Sussex 6pts, Worcestershire 3pts
Match scorecard
Live commentary

Worcestershire go into day three needing 27 runs to avoid following on against Sussex after running into an in-form Monty Panesar at New Road.

After resuming on 289-8, Sussex squeezed another two batting points as their tail continued to wag before being bowled out for 375.

But Panesar then got to work, bowling 24 overs unchanged to take 4-45 as Worcestershire closed on 199-7.

Alexei Kervezee could hold the key for the home side, still there on 52.

But it was Panesar and James Anyon who did most to edged Sussex closer to safety in their head-on clash with relegation rivals Worcestershir.

After enjoying a last-wicket stand of 52, they then played leading roles with the ball.

While Panesar reinforced his position as the leading spin bowler in the Championship, Anyon removed a major obstacle when Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell was given out leg-before for 36.

There was no hint of trouble ahead as Mitchell and James Cameron began the home reply with a partnership of 64 but five wickets then crashed for 52 as Panesar teased and probed while the seamers rotated from the opposite end.

Will Adkin yorked Cameron for 35 and Panesar moved up to 60 wickets for the season when he struck twice in quick succession, snaring Vikram Solanki at short leg, while an obviously disappiinted Moeen Ali was snapped up at slip.

CLOSE OF PLAY SUMMARIES

BBC Hereford & Worcester's Dave Bradley:

"Only a late fightback from Alexei Kerveeze, who needed a decent score, and Gareth Andrew pulled Worcestershire back into some sort of contention.

"Ben Brown impressed in the morning session, the tall James Anyon in particular giving good support as the last five wickets more than doubled the Sussex total.

"Panesar bowled a fine spell and, although he did not endear himself to the New Road crowd with a series of pointless appeals, his dismissals of Andrew and Ben Scott just before the close could prove vital."

BBC Radio Sussex's Alex Winter:

"It was clearly difficult to get started, even though the pitch showed no signs of excessive help for the bowlers.

"Monty Panesar kept the scoring rate down well and built pressure. He found a little bit of turn but may have been helped by the umpire for two of his wickets.

"Earlier, Worcestershire's seamers bowled poorly, trying to bounce the batsmen out. And Sussex's late surge could prove crucial."