Gareth Roderick century leads Worcestershire revival at Northants

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO ROUNUP: Roderick had maintained his composure as wickets fell around him, while the evergreen Ben Sanderson finished with figures of 4 for 78,

ECB Reporters Network | 01/05/2026 at 18:47

Northampton (day one of four): Worcestershire 306, Northamptonshire 40-0 - Northamptonshire are 266 runs behind with 10 first-innings wickets remaining

Gareth Roderick played a brilliant lone hand with a combative unbeaten 164, Worcestershire's first hundred of the summer, to force the Pears into a commanding position after an early collapse against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The visitors rued their decision to bat after slumping to 186 for nine on day one of this County Championship match, before loanee Oliver Hannon-Dalby joined Roderick at the crease. The pair frustrated the Steelbacks for two hours, mounting a last-wicket stand of 120, a new Worcestershire record against Northamptonshire, before they were bowled out for 306.

Roderick had maintained his composure as wickets fell around him, stroking the ball fluently all around the ground. He offered just the one chance on 95 when he drilled one back hard at leg-spinner Calvin Harrison. Hannon-Dalby (26) proved the perfect foil, going 30 balls without scoring. But he started to locate the boundary as the ball grew soft and the hosts let the game drift, runs flowing easily.

The evergreen Ben Sanderson finished with figures of 4 for 78, extending his season's tally to 18, while there were two apiece for Harrison and Raphy Weatherall. Northamptonshire openers Ricardo Vasconcelos and Luke Procter survived a tricky 14 overs before the close, finishing on 40 for 0, trailing by 266.