GLEN CHAPPLE was a hero for the second day running as he joined forces with Kyle Hogg to step up Lancashire’s victory bid against Worcestershire in the LV County Championship Division One match at New Road.

Captain Chapple, who claimed six wickets for 34 runs on the opening day, followed up by powering his side to a 180-run first innings lead with a splendid 89, which contained one six and 13 fours off 105 balls.

He also figured in a fine century stand with Hogg – who scored 60 – before becoming part of Lancashire-born medium pacer Chris Whelan’s career-best haul of five for 95.

Paceman Hogg also picked up a couple of scalps before the close when Worcestershire were trailing by 51 with seven wickets remaining.

Lancashire began a highly productive day by resuming their first innings five runs ahead on 172 for five off 46 overs before finally being bowled out for 347 off 90 overs.

A couple of early wickets gave Worcestershire some encouragement before their fortunes began to slump dramatically thanks to Chapple and Hogg, who put on 123 in 28 overs for the eighth wicket.

They came together after paceman Matt Mason had removed Mark Chilton and Luke Sutton in successive overs.

Chilton, on 51 overnight, was snapped up low down at second slip by Daryl Mitchell for 55, including six fours, before Sutton played on for nine.

But Chapple and Hogg exploited Worcestershire’s bowling inadequacies to such a degree that they completed a century stand in 22 overs.

By lunch they had lifted Lancashire to 289 for seven off 77 overs with Chapple and Hogg both in touching distance of completing half-centuries.

Hogg was first to the milestone shortly after the interval with the help of one six and six fours off 98 balls, before Chapple followed him with eight fours.

Their partnership finally ended when Hogg, who had a brief spell on loan at New Road in 2007, was bowled by Whelan after adding one more four to his tally.

Worcestershire’s uphill struggle intensified when they launched their second innings with Mitchell soon falling to Tom Smith’s catch at second slip off Hogg.

Worse was to follow when Moore, after completing his first half-century of the season, was bowled by a Hogg delivery which kept low and nipped back. His 53 contained one six and seven fours off 93 balls.

Skipper Vikram Solanki (35) departed to Mahmood before Worcestershire closed on 129 for three.