Leicestershire closed a rain-hit third day against Worcestershire at New Road 130 runs adrift at 170-7.

The home side began at 285-7 and declared on 300-8 after securing a third bonus point, with Steven Davies unbeaten on 78, featuring seven fours.

Young openers Tom New and Matt Boyce both departed cheaply in the Foxes reply as Australian Steve Magoffin bowled a spell of 1-4 from seven overs.

The 28-year-old, on his home debut, finished with three wickets.

Young wicket-keeper Davies was denied the chance of his fifth Championship century and first since August 2006 as Worcestershire had to declare to make up for lost time.

After the loss of the openers, HD Ackerman played shared 70 in 16 overs with Jacques du Toit before Magoffin trapped him playing across the line.

Former Middlesex seamer Chris Whelan, making his debut, removed du Toit when the South African top-edged an attempted pull.

After a rain delay Paul Nixon was caught at second slip, then after another break, this time for bad light, Jim Allenby was yorked by Kabir Ali.

Highly-rated former Academy batsman James Taylor made only eight before he was trapped by Kabir, but the Foxes scraped past their follow-on target.