LOUGHBOROUGH UCCE duo Will Gifford and Arun Harinath staged a dogged 107-run partnership to hold up Worcestershire's victory bid in the three-day first-class friendly match at New Road.

The County were dismissed for 352, which gave them a 148-run advantage, and the students looked like they might struggle to make their professional opponents bat again after slipping to 74-4.

But Worcestershire academy player Gifford (50 not out) and Harinath (60no) batted sensibly and stylishly to take the game into a third day.

Beginning the day on 201-2, the plan was for Worcestershire to post a large total in fairly quick time, but the remainder of the home side's innings was a turgid affair.

Ben Smith and overnight centurion Daryl Mitchell added just 12 runs to the total before the former New Road captain played a poor shot straight to Chris Murtagh at midwicket off the bowling of Tom Parsons to depart for 29.

Parsons then accounted for Mitchell when Gifford held onto a good catch, but the opener's 112 will have done his cause for a regular spot at the top of the order no harm at all.

The wickets fell at regular intervals with Steven Davies, Moeen Ali and Kabir Ali all getting themselves out.

Davies was caught behind by Ed Foster for a duck, while Moeen made 12 before offering Liam Lewis a simple catch off Matthew Spriegel's off-spin.

Kabir's mis-timed drive at Ruel Brathwaite then looped straight to Stephen Wheeler.

Graeme Hick occupied the crease for 73 balls to score 25, but Brathwaite found the outside edge of his bat and Foster made no mistake.

The hosts' only batting bright spot of the day was Roger Sillence's breezy unbeaten 51, which came off 60 balls and included eight fours and a six.

The all-rounder put on 64 for the ninth wicket with Richard Jones (24), but the innings was soon over when Nadeem Malik was dismissed with the score on 352.

The students' reply started badly, losing Spriegel for a duck, but Lewis and Foster batted well to put on 49 for the second wicket.

Gifford and Harinath then batted like much more experienced cricketers to see their side through to the close.