WORCESTERSHIRE CCC saw their miserable start to the County Championship season continue following a 47-run defeat against Sussex.
A stunning knock from Jake Libby (167) gave the Pears hope of securing a first win of the season at the County Ground in Hove.
However, his dismissal late in the innings saw Sussex wrestle back the momentum as the home side took the remaining wickets to come out on top in a thriller.
The result means Worcestershire remain bottom of the County Championship Division One table after failing to win any of their five matches this season.
The Pears won the toss and opted to bowl and Sussex in big trouble on 88-6 in their first innings.
After openers Daniel Hughes (25) and Tom Haines (53) put on 80 runs for the first wicket, the Pears claimed a remarkable six wickets for the loss of just eight runs.
Tom Taylor (5-56) did most of the damage, removing both Hughes and Haines while he also claimed the scalps of Tom Clark (0) and Tom Alsop (0) for ducks.
However, Jack Carson (102) scored a battling century to revive the Sussex innings while last batter James Hayes (33 not out) frustrated the Pears attack.
Worcestershire eventually bowled Sussex out for 284 as the home side’s tail order added crucial runs.
In reply, the Pears slipped to 111-8 as Henry Nicholls (32) and Taylor (32) top scored.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice (5-40) claimed a five-for as Sussex bowled Worcestershire out for just 180 in their first innings.
The visitors responded by taking two early wickets in Sussex’s second innings as Taylor (2-37) and Ben Allison (3-52) both struck to leave the home side on 0-2 in the fourth over.
Sussex recovered once again as Alsop (72) and James Coles (68) both scored half-centuries in a 125-run fourth-wicket stand.
Spin bowler Fateh Singh (3-58) took the final couple of wickets as the Pears bowled Sussex out for 256.
This meant Worcestershire needed 361 runs for victory and the Pears went into the final day on 117-3 still 244 runs short of the required total.
Libby hit 22 boundaries on his way to a magnificent century and had support from Nicholls (34) and Brett D’Oliveira (29) along the way.
However, Hudson-Prentice (2-51) eventually claimed the scalp of Libby with Worcestershire’s lower order unable to score the remaining runs as the Pears were bowled out for 313 in the final session.
Worcestershire are next in action against Essex with the game to begin on Friday, May 16 at 11am at New Road.
