LONDON, Aug 7: Leaders Warwickshire were in danger of their first county championship defeat of the season after an eight-hour innings of 180 by Worcestershire captain Tim Curtis put his team in command on Saturday, reports ^c’urtis guided Worcestershire to 473 for four declared — a first innings lead of 257 — and then saw his new-ball pair snap up two key wickets in the final hour.

Phil Newport trapped Roger Twose lbw and Dominic Ostler went the same way against Neal Radford to leave Warwickshire on 56 for two at the close of the third day of the four-day match at Worcester.

Curtis, whose previous 22 first-class innings had yielded only 529 runs, batted painstakingly on a alow pitch to reach his century off 302 balls with seven fours.

The tempo was lifted by David Leatherdale and Stuart Lampitt during an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 133 in 25 overs.

Leatherdale stroked 50 off 49 balls and finished unbeaten on 711 including seven fours and a six.