COACH Kevin Sharp has revealed Worcestershire's philosophy of “being prepared to lose to win” as they sit proudly at the top of the Second XI Championship.

They have tried to play positive cricket and force results throughout 2017.

The seconds suffered a three-wicket defeat to Warwickshire after both teams revived a game that appeared doomed for a draw.

But the County enjoyed a seven-wicket win over Leicestershire after a similar agreement breathed life back into the match.

Sharp said: “Our philosophy here would always be to be prepared to lose to win and make sure if the game is not taking its course on the third day that we somehow get into a situation where we can have a really good game of cricket in the last two sessions.

“There is nothing worse than playing dead cricket for two thirds of the last day for a monotonous draw.

“For example on the second day of the game with Leicestershire we had a conversation with their coach about how we thought the game was heading.

“We declared short of a bonus point at tea-time but it was a case of let’s not go out and waste another four or five overs so we forfeited that with a view to either bowling them out in the third innings or chasing a target on the final afternoon.

“Both situations were available to us. Either way there is a chance for the game to be set up at lunch-time on the final day with both teams prepared to lose to have the chance to win.

“It was the same against Warwickshire when the result just went the other way.

“But if you win half of your games and lose half you won’t be far off winning the league.”

Sharp added: “Four-day cricket generally takes its natural course. Three-day cricket doesn’t always do that.

“If you are not careful you can get to noon on the last day and the game is dead so you’ve got to be thinking ahead on day two of where is this heading now or do we need to do anything to get this game into a place where we can have a finish.

“Philosophies differ. Some clubs would be happy to do it that way, some not as much. That’s just the way it is.”