Ali sets up 10-wicket win

Openers cruise to victory target

Last updated: 20th July 2008

Kabir Ali Worcestershire v Leicestershire County Championship Apr 08

Ali: six wickets

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LV County Championship - Division Two
New Road - Day Four
Worcestershire 457-8 dec (B F Smith 99, S M Davies 83, D K H Mitchell 78, V S Solanki 69, S C Moore 57) & 102-0 (S C Moore 58 no) v Glamorgan 279 (G P Rees 68, M A Wallace 51, Imran Arif 5-50) & 279 (Kabir Ali 6-58)
Worcestershire (22pts) beat Glamorgan (4pts) by 10 wkts

Kabir Ali took six wickets as Worcestershire moved into second place in the Division Two table with a 10-wicket victory over struggling Glamorgan at New Road.

The 27-year-old paceman, disappointed at being continually overlooked for an England recall, claimed six for 58 to lift his Championship tally for the season to 37 at an average of 20.00.

It was also his first five-wicket haul in the competition at New Road since taking five for 94 against Leicestershire in September 2006.

Kabir's exploits overshadowed Simon Jones' bowling contribution against his former county, as the Welshman failed to take a second-innings wicket in his 11 overs.

Ali's sterling efforts helped dismiss Glamorgan for 279 - the same score as their firstinnings score - and leave Worcestershire with a target of 102, which they achieved with the second opening century stand of the match between Stephen Moore and Daryl Mitchell.

Moore followed up his first-innings 57 with 58 not out, including one six and eight fours off 82 balls, while Mitchell was undefeated on 44 when the winning line was passed.

Worcestershire have now secured two wins and a draw in their last three matches, while Glamorhan remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Day Three

Glamorgan are staring defeat in the face going into the final day, leading by 11 runs with only three second innings wickets intact.

Bradford League bowler Imran Arif completed a five wicket haul as Glamorgan were forced to follow-on for the fourth time in five matches, and removed both openers in the second innings as the visitors struggled to 189-7.

After taking three wickets in 11 balls yesterday, the 24-year-old Kashmir-born seamer wrapped up the Welshmen's first innings for a below-par 279 after dismissing Jason Gillespie and Dean Cosker in two further spells, finishing with 5-50.

Simon Jones claimed three more wickets, taking his tally to 32 this season as Worcestershire bowled their opponents out, despite a last wicket stand of 59 between Dean Cosker (42) and James Harris (28).

Arif, snaffling two more wickets for a match return of seven for 114 so far, was again a threat second time round, bowling quickly and straight to rip through he defences of Gareth Rees (38) and Richard Grant (22).

Kabir Ali then claimed four for 32 - including a spell of three for five in 21 balls - as Glamorgan batsmen came and went at regular intervals, David Hemp (30)and Michael Powell (35) both falling to Ali after looking well set.

Day Two

New recruit Imran Arif made an instant impression for Worcestershire, as Glamorgan finished day two on 136-4 in reply to 457-8 declared.

The 24-year-old has a British wife and a UK work permit but is currently registered as an overseas player due to his Pakistan passport.

Picked up out of the Bradford League, Arif claimed three wickets in 11 balls to leave the visitors struggling on 56-4 needing 308 to avoid the follow on.

However, opener Gareth Rees stood firm, hitting an unbeaten 59 as he and Mark Wallace (37 not out) shared an unbroken stand of 80.

Worcestershire had started the day on 307-4 and looking to pile up the runs having already made sure of maximum batting points.

Wicketkeeper Steve Davies (83) and Ben Smith (99) put on 143 for the fifth wicket but neither were able to reach their century, meaning no home batsman reached three figures in the entire innings.

Day One

Worcestershire made their best start in the LV County Championship for a year in their Division Two fixture against Glamorgan at New Road.

The visitors - missing Robert Croft for a Championship game for the first time since September 2001 - won the toss and elected to bowl first but the decision backfired when Worcestershire openers Stephen Moore and Daryl Mitchell proceeded to put on 109 for the first wicket.

After failing to capture a batting bonus point in three of the previous four games, Worcestershire secured three by reaching 307-4 on a productive first day.

Moore (57) made his first half-century in nine innings from 83 balls before falling to Alex Wharf, while Mitchell hit 13 fours in reaching 78 - his highest Championship score at New Road - at which point David Harrison claimed his wicket.

Vikam Solanki made 69 from 94 balls before being stumped by Mark Wallace off Dean Cosker and shared a stand of 88 with Ben Smith, who stood on 58 not out at the close alongside Steven Davies (32 no).

The only disappointment for the home side came with the loss of Graeme Hick (5) who was caught at slip off James Harris.