WORCESTERSHIRE’S promising paceman Dillon Pennington has signed a contract extension until the end of the 2022 season.

The 20-year-old academy product has followed Jack Haynes, Adam Finch and Josh Dell in committing his long-term future to the County.

Pennington made his senior debut last season, picking up 22 wickets in eight County Championship matches.

He earned glowing praise from New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and South African pace bowler Morne Morkel for his performances when the pair were playing for Yorkshire and Surrey respectively.

Shrewsbury-born Pennington returned to the side last month after early-season injury setbacks and has been a regular member of the successful Vitality Blast side.

He represented England under 19s in the 2018 ICC World Cup and Worcestershire’s cricket steering group chairman Paul Pridgeon believes he can eventually earn full international honours.

Pridgeon said: “As a club, we are delighted to have secured Dillon until 2022.

“He is a very exciting young cricketer who in my opinion has the ability to not only have a very successful career in county cricket but to represent his country as well.

“Provided that he continues with his excellent work ethic, he is working with the right people to take him forward.”

Pennington said: “I’m really pleased that the club have shown faith in me by awarding that length of contract and I can’t wait to say ‘thank you’ to them by trying to perform out in the middle and taking wickets.

“I had a tough time being injured at the start of the season but thankfully I’ve done OK since coming back.

“It’s lovely to hear Pridge’s comments about playing for England. He has been a big part of my career in coaching me when I was growing up.

“I don’t know if it will happen but that’s my goal and I will work towards that and things like the club giving me a nice, lengthy contract can only help.”

Meanwhile, County academy-pathway player Ollie Walker sparkled with the bat for the Midlands in the tied third-place play-off match with the North in the Bunbury Festival T20 competition at Felsted School.

Walker opened after the Midlands had elected to bat and smashed 90 off just 61 deliveries with five sixes and seven fours.

After another County player Harry Cooke scored 15 batting at number three, Walker added 102 for the third wicket with Callum Hawkins (33 not out).

Walker was eventually third out with the total on 152 and the Midlands closed on 160-4.

Two more County players Reeve Evitts and Rehan Edavaleth shared the new ball and the former made the first breakthrough in trapping Thomas Aspinwall lbw for nine.

The North appeared to be coasting to victory when reaching 100-1 in 9.3 overs.

But then wickets started to tumble and Stanley McAlindon was run out off the last ball with the scores level.

Evitts finished with 1-27 from three overs.

The South-West defeated London-East in the final.

In their final 50-over match, the Midlands went down by 38 runs to the North.

Edavaleth bowled six overs for 29 runs as the North totalled 254-6.

He was dismissed for a single and Cooke scored 28 off 43 balls with three fours as the Midlands were bowled out for 216 in 46 overs.