WORCESTERSHIRE'S County Championship Division Two promotion bid is in severe danger of running out of fuel after a grim start to their make-or-break match against Northamptonshire at New Road.

After allowing the champions to hit back from 96-7 to 260 all out, the County plunged to 50-5 in reply by the close last night.

But any Worcestershire hopes of a recovery were delayed by persistent rain today which prevented any play before lunch.

Yesterday's dismal batting display could not be blame on the wicket. ECB pitches liaison officer Mike Denness, the former England captain, regarded the strip as being blameless for the flood of wickets.

Among the obstacles the County experienced yesterday was Toby Bailey who cracked a career-best 96 not out which contained 16 fours off 127 balls.

His battling efforts changed the complexion of Northants innings despite another fine performance by Glenn McGrath who took 4-75.

After being put in, the visitors soon found the Australian pace star in a wicket-taking mood.

He stuck with only his second delivery to remove Adrian Rollins before knocking out Jeff Cook's leg stump.

McGrath then made way for Stuart Lampitt to trap both Alec Swann and Mark Powell leg before.

Worcestershire stepped up their encouraging start when David Leatherdale pounced twice in one deadly over.

Firstly, he had Russell Warren trapped lbw and then accounted for Graeme Swann in similar fashion.

To add to Northants' concerns Kevin Innes fell to McGrath shortly before lunch.

At that stage they were on the ropes and in desperate need of a steading influence.

It arrived in the shape of Tony Penberthy and Bailey.

They added 53 in 16 overs before Penberthy was caught at second slip by Vikram Solanki off Lampitt for 48 which contained seven fours off 91 deliveries.

Bailey then put on a further 52 in 14 overs with Paul Taylor.

The determined stand was eventually broken when Taylor became McGrath's 68th Championship victims of the season.

Worcestershire, however, were then frustrated by a 59-run partnership in 13 overs between Darren Cousins and Bailey.

It came to an end when Cousins pulled a delivery from Ryan Driver onto his stumps for 14.

The dismissal left Bailey just four runs short of what would have been a thoroughly deserved century.

The Northants hero, however, continued to hog the limelight when the County began their reply by taking a catch behind the stumps to oust Paul Pollard for ten off Taylor.

Cousins followed up to remove Elliott Wilson before Worcestershire tumbled to 29-3 when Solanki was caught at first slip by Cook off Taylor for a duck.

Northants then wrapped up a highly successful opening day when Driver and James Pipe both fell to Cousins.