With a lengthy delay to the start of proceedings on the third morning of the match, play was unable to resume until 12:30pm, with heavy overnight rain meaning the outfield needed some extra attention before the sides could commence.
After such a dominant end the day previous, losing Adam Hose to a strangle down the legside in just the second over of day three was not part of the Worcestershire agenda in their search for a healthy first innings score.
Hose had to make way however, for a very well made 82, unable to add to his overnight score, as Brett D’Oliveira entered the fray with his side well-set at 187-2, and crucially, Jake Libby still not-out on 70 at the other end.
The skipper scrapped for 12 deliveries, before he too fell off the bowling of Sonny Baker courtesy of an excellent low catch by Tom Prest at backward point.
The hosts reeled as they lost Ethan Brookes soon after with the Pears stuttering at 189-5.
The home side navigated their way to lunch at 204-5, with Libby 77 not-out, joined by Matthew Waite.
The pair resumed after the interval with aplomb, continuing their low-risk approach as they looked to chip away at the lead, until the partnership was ended after adding 34, when Waite was caught behind for a cautious 21 off 56 deliveries.
Tom Taylor joined Libby, but failed to survive the final over before the new ball was taken, as part-timer Nick Gubbins trapped the Worcestershire-man LBW without scoring.
Ben Allison made his way to the middle, with the home side 225-7, still 68 adrift with any hopes of parity in the match resting on vice-captain Jake Libby.