WORCESTERSHIRE pressed home their advantage against Cardiff UCCE with two late wickets at New Road last night.

The Welsh students finished on 5-2 after the County had enjoyed a run feast in their first innings.

The short boundary on the Cathedral side of the ground was peppered regularly as the sparse crowd was treated to some fine stroke play.

Stephen Peters set the tone with an entertaining 89, which included 14 fours and two sixes, while Vikram Solanki scored a fine 84, from just 88 balls.

This brought together Daryl Mitchell and stand-in skipper Steve Rhodes and they proceeded to add 158 for the sixth wicket. Mitchell was eventually caught at long-off for an excellent 83, while Rhodes retired hurt on 87.

Worcestershire declared on 506-8 -- a lead of 388.

Opening bowlers Matt Mason and Mark Harrity then quickly dismissed Lewis and Bell with only one run on the scoreboard, but with the light fading fast, Rhodes was unable to use first innings hero Nadeem Malik.

The former Nottinghamshire seamer had taken 6-41 in his first outing for the County as Cardiff UCCE were skittled out for just 118 in their first innings.