Worcestershire’s Tom Taylor produced a timely display at Edgbaston this week, starring with both bat and ball as the Pears finalised their preparations in positive fashion before the start of the Rothesay County Championship this Friday.
A measured 49 helped dig his side out of a deep hole, having arrived at the crease with Worcestershire 49-6, whilst a third half-century of pre-season for the imperious Jake Libby continued to further the visitor’s recovery.
Contributions from Matthew Waite (38), Adam Hose (32) and Brett D’Oliveira (34*) saw the Pears finish their first innings 258 all-out.
Taylor’s response with the ball was nothing short of emphatic, with the seamer at his potent best on his way to figures of 6-43, before D’Oliveira (55) and Hose (52*) led the way for the visitors as the match drew to it’s conclusion, but not without Taylor grabbing the final word as he registered an unbeaten fifty to steer his side to 197-4 at the close.
The visitors, fresh off the back of successive two day matches against Sussex and Glamorgan earlier in the week, arrived at Edgbaston with a 12-man squad looking to finish a constructive pre-season schedule on a high.
The hosts made the most of the favourable early bowling conditions, giving the visitors a working over in the opening exchanges as Worcestershire were reduced to 49-6.
Jake Libby had a rare failure as he was caught behind without scoring, before Adam Hose (4) was run-out and Dan Lategan suffered the same fate as Libby, feathering behind off a Chris Woakes delivery.
The tough start continued as skipper D’Oliveira was trapped LBW and Gareth Roderick was bowled, with Ethan Brookes’ dismissal leaving the away side in deep trouble after 20 overs of the contest.
It was a lower-order counter offensive from all-rounder Matthew Waite and Tom Taylor that kept the Warwickshire bowlers at bay in the hour that followed, navigating a tricky spell in unfavourable conditions.
The pair added a crucial 62 for the seventh wicket, with Waite showing his usual composure to continue the momentum swing late in the morning and into the afternoon, whilst Taylor launched into the bowlers, clearing the ropes twice during his cameo.
Waite eventually came unstuck for a brilliant 38 when he was LBW to Ethan Bamber, but Taylor continued his charge in fine style, seeing his side up to 143, before his 44-ball stay at the crease was ended on 49.
This saw Libby and Hose re-enter the fray, for a second time in the match, with the senior pair making the most of their second chance to occupy the crease.
Hose made a brisk 32, whilst Libby churned out a third half-century in as many pre-season matches, as their partnership accumulated 65 and threw Worcestershire a lifeline in the contest.
Hose was removed by a sharp catch at second slip, shortly before red-ball vice-captain Libby retired having chalked up 52 at a rate better than a run a ball.
Lategan (14*) and D’Oliveira (34* off 28) added some late impetus as the visiting side declared on 258 after 60 overs of action.
At 90 without loss, the visitors had it all to do, as Alan Richardson’s side continued to rotate their bowlers in search of an opening breakthrough.
It was, as it so often is, the golden arm of Matthew Waite who broke the deadlock by trapping Rob Yates in front with an in-swinging ball from around the wicket that pinned the left-hander.
With 58 County Championship wickets to his name across 2025, Tom Taylor showed every sign that he is primed to continue his mesmeric form, taking the next four Warwickshire wickets in quick succession as he ripped through the host’s middle-order.
Bowling with swing and control, Taylor had Malik caught for 46, before bowling the danger man, Hain, for nought and finishing his devastating spell by removing Mousley (22) and Kai Smith first ball.
Having changed the complexion of the match, Taylor led his side into a dominant position, claiming his fifer shortly after Warwickshire had passed 150 when he had Hain caught at first-slip by Ben Gibbon.
Rob Yates made 37 before Harry Darley took his scalp with a ball that nipped back enough from around the wicket to beat the bat, swiftly followed by Ed Barnard, who retired on 28.
Kai Smith came and went for a second time in the match as D’Oliveira (1-11) took a smart caught and bowled, before Tom Taylor registered his sixth wicket of the innings and Matthew Waite wrapped up proceedings with the wicket of Chris Woakes, to see Warwickshire finish on 273.
Gareth Roderick made his way to a brisk 37 at the top of the order in an eye-catching innings from the keeper-batter who stroked seven boundaries during his stay at the crease.
Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira provided further evidence that he is returning to somewhere near his best form on the eve of the Division Two campaign, with a sparkling 54-ball-55 opening the batting seeing him leave the field on his own accord by retiring having hit 10-fours and a six.
Trapped LBW on his first delivery at the crease, Adam Hose cashed in on his reprieve as he made a fifty of his own at the second time of asking, and despite Matthew Waite departing without scoring, it was Taylor who finished the match as he started, at the forefront, unbeaten on 50 from 62 balls, in another exhibition of his value to this Pears side.
With Hose not-out on 52 and light-fading, the sides shook hands and ended what had been another compelling contes, with attentions now turning to Derbyshire this Friday where Worcestershire travel North for their opening assignment of the 2026 Rothesay County Championship Division Two campaign.
