Roderick Leads Pears' Fightback Against Northants in 2026

Gareth Roderick's unbeaten 164 helps Worcestershire force a commanding position against Northamptonshire

Gareth Roderick Shines with Brilliant Century Gareth Roderick played 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 186-9 on day one of this County Championship match, before loanee Oliver Hannon-Dalby joined Roderick at the crease. The pair frustrated the home side for two hours, mounting a last-wicket stand of 120, a new Worcestershire record against Northants before they were bowled out for 306. ## Roderick Maintains Composure Under Pressure Roderick had maintained his composure as wickets fell around him, stroking the ball fluently all around the ground. He offered just one chance on 95 when he drilled one back hard at leg-spinner Calvin Harrison, who could not hold the catch and Hannon-Dalby (26) proved the perfect foil, going 30 balls without scoring before starting to locate the boundary as the ball grew soft and the hosts let the game drift. ## Collapsing Worcestershire Innings Suffers Setbacks Earlier Worcestershire quickly lost Jake Libby in the day's second over, to a good low catch at second slip by Harrison off Harry Conway. Dan Lategan (32) played positively, driving crisply and punching through the covers, but he perished in the same manner when he drove loosely against Sanderson and nicked behind. Weatherall was wayward in his opening over before honing his radar, but removed Adam Hose caught down the legside by a diving Lewis McManus. ## Pears' Middle Order Suffers a Series of Setbacks Sanderson struck in the next over, nipping one away to draw the edge of opposition skipper Brett D'Oliveira's bat, leaving the Pears 52-4. Roderick who garnered runs down the wicket early, found a willing partner in Ethan Brookes (32) and the pair rebuilt adding 64 either side of lunch. Sanderson broke the stand early in the afternoon, jagging one back to trap Brookes lbw before dismissing Matthew Waite in similar fashion in his next over. ## Roderick and Hannon-Dalby Share Last-Wicket Stand Roderick continued to look solid, driving straight for four before running two to reach his half-century, but soon lost another partner as Tom Taylor was adjudged caught behind, having a big swish outside off stump against Weatherall. Beyers Swanepoel clipped Sanderson off his legs to take Worcestershire past 150 but he was soon trapped lbw by Harrison, who then removed Adam Finch in his next over when he edged onto his stumps. ## Roderick's Unbeaten Century Sets the Tone for Pears Roderick continued to play positively, caressing a Conway delivery through the covers and powering Harrison back over his head to move into the 90s. And after surviving the dropped catch, he moved to three figures by turning James Sales off his legs for four. Roderick then lofted three sixes over deep midwicket off Harrison, the first helped over the ropes by a leaping Conway who couldn't quite hold on. ## Northamptonshire Openers Survive the Day Northamptonshire openers Ricardo Vasconcelos and Luke Procter survived a tricky 14 overs before the close, finishing on 40-0. Ben Sanderson finished with figures of 4-78, while there were two wickets each for Harrison and Raphy Weatherall.