DARYL Mitchell moved into the top six of Worcestershire CCC’s all-time century-makers on day three of the LV=Insurance County Championship derby with Warwickshire at New Road.

Ed Barnard justified his promotion up the batting order with a superb unbeaten 98 and together, the pair's efforts saw Worcestershire earn a first-innings lead of 20 as they reached 415-8 by the close in reply to Warwickshire’s 395 all out.

Mitchell clocked up his 38th hundred for Worcestershire and moved level on that figure with Fred Bowley.

Only Graeme Hick, Glenn Turner, Don Kenyon, Harold ‘Doc’ Gibbins and Tim Curtis have hit more centuries for Worcestershire than Mitchell in red-ball cricket.

Worcestershire resumed on 152-2 and Jack Haynes soon brought up a half century from 110 balls with six fours in his first senior innings since a five week lay-off with an ankle problem.

The 100 stand with Mitchell occupied 264 balls and the veteran opener completed his hundred with a single off Will Rhodes.

It came from 228 balls with 10 boundaries and Mitchell joined the top six club.

Matt Lamb made the first breakthrough of the day when Jack Haynes (65) was caught off a leading edge at extra cover to end a stand of 130 with Mitchell.

Mitchell’s fine knock ended 11 runs later on 113 when he played forward to Liam Norwell and was lbw.

Warwickshire continued to chip away and captain Will Rhodes struck in successive overs as Brett D’Oliveira (18) was caught behind and Ben Cox (1) checked his shot and offered a return catch.

Worcestershire captain, Joe Leach, produced some aggressive batting and collected three boundaries in an over from Rhodes.

He made a quickfire 34 before he was caught down the legside off Rob Yates.

Barnard, promoted after impressive early season form, batted responsibly and swept Yates for four to bring up the 300.

Ish Sodhi (13) picked out deep mid wicket off Lamb but Barnard completed a 122-ball fifty with his fifth four.

Adam Finch helped him add a further unbroken 91 for the ninth wicket. Barnard needed three from the final over to reach his hundred but was content to take a single off the second ball. He hit eight fours in his 195 ball knock.