Worcestershire CCC enjoyed a positive return to action last weekend as they drew their two-day warm-up fixture with last summer’s Bob Willis Trophy finalists Somerset at Taunton.

Club Captain Joe Leach and fellow new-ball bowler Dillon Pennington picked up three wickets apiece as the Somerset first innings was wrapped up inside the morning session for 176 in just 46.1 overs – a deficit of 129.

It was an excellent effort by a Worcestershire attack as the top four batsmen in the Somerset batting line-up were all permitted to bat twice each.

Tom Fell, Jack Haynes and Ed Barnard then had some excellent batting practice in a total of 100-4 declared to follow on from century-maker Riki Wessels, new signing Gareth Roderick, Ross Whiteley and Alex Milton during the first innings.

There was time for Pennington and Adam Finch to claim another wicket apiece as Somerset closed on 69-2 in their second innings.

Somerset resumed on 122-7 in reply to Worcestershire’s 305-5 in 60 overs, and Pennington claimed his third scalp of the innings in his second over of the morning.

Craig Overton had added only five more runs to his overnight 38 not out when he nicked an excellent delivery, and Wessels held onto a sharp chance at first slip.

James Hildreth, dismissed for a duck yesterday, was given another opportunity in the middle but was bowled by Charlie Morris for seven.

George Bartlett (12) also had a second crack, and Finch finished off the innings by hitting his stumps.

It left Tom Lammonby – in his second knock of the innings – unbeaten on 44.

Pennington finished with fine figures of 10-3-19-3 and Leach 9-2-37-3 with Finch (8.1-2-38-2), Morris (9-2-40-1) and Ed Barnard (10-4-33-1) also contributing.

Worcestershire batted for a second time with a lead of 129, and Josh Dell hit three boundaries in his 13 before he was lbw to Overton immediately before lunch.

Tom Fell and Jack Haynes added 49 at a brisk rate until the latter, having struck six boundaries in his 26, was lbw to Roelof van der Merwe.

Fell departed five runs later for 31 from 85 balls with five fours when caught behind off Lewis Goldsworthy, who also accounted for Alex Milton (11) at short cover on the drive.

Worcestershire declared at 100-4 from 33 overs, with Barnard unbeaten on 19 to allow Somerset one final batting session.

Barnard was then given an outing, this time with the new ball.

But it was his opening partner, Finch, who made the first breakthrough with the final ball of his first over.

Green (1) drove quite hard at a delivery, and Josh Dell held onto a sharp chance at third slip away to his right.

Lammonby advanced to 30 before he nicked Pennington and Wessels made no mistake at first slip before the players shook hands.

The final bowling figures were: Barnard 6-2-9-0, Finch 6-3-28-1, Leach 3-1-12-0, Morris 5-2-10-0 and Pennington 2.1-0-8-1.

Worcestershire will next be in action from next Wednesday (March 24) in a three-day encounter against Durham UCCE at Kidderminster.