WORCESTERSHIRE have a lot of work to do to ensure they do not lose to Lancashire following another action-packed day at Emirates Old Trafford.

Lancashire started this week second in Specsavers County Championship Division Two, on the coat tails of leaders Worcestershire who had also won their first two matches.

The advantage has swung back and forth throughout two days which have seen ball dominate on a surface offering some help but not masses. The visitors will hope the pendulum swings back in their favour as they hold a lead of 120 with one wicket in hand.

Having conceded a first-innings lead of 29 at lunch, Worcestershire reached close at 149-9 from 66.1 overs. Richard Gleeson took 4-35 from 16.1.

Lancashire, replying to a first-innings 172, started the day on 88-5 and were boosted by an aggressive 98-run sixth-wicket partnership between captain Dane Vilas (39) and Liam Livingstone, who top-scored with 69.

They united for 20.1 overs to share the contest’s highest partnership, while no one has yet bettered Livingstone’s 69 off 112 balls with 14 fours.

But Vilas fell in the next over to spark a superb Worcestershire fightback as Lancashire lost their last five wickets for just 15 runs to be bowled out for 201 at lunch. Unfortunately for Worcester, wickets continued to tumble, with Gleeson the standout.

He claimed three wickets either side of tea with Tom Fell trapped lbw for 40 as the visitors slipped to 76-5.

Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox were then removed before Barnard and Parnell shared 42 for the eighth wicket to give their side a glimmer of hope.

But Barnard was bowled for 18 by Livingstone and Gleeson then had Parnell caught behind for 25 in the final over, a significant blow to Worcestershire.