Worcestershire on the brink

Washout leaves Pears within touching distance of Division One

Last updated: 5th September 2008

Worcestershire on the brink

Washout at New Road

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LV County Championship - Division Two
New Road
Worcestershire 339 (V S Solanki 91, D K H Mitchell 79, G J Batty 60no, N M Carter 6-100) & 45-1 v Warwickshire 251( I J L Trott 88 no, C D Whelan 4-66)
Worcestershire (8pts) drew with Warwickshire (9pts)

Worcestershire and Warwickshire edged closer to promotion after their Division Two clash at New Road was abandoned as a draw because of torrential rain.

A washout for the second successive day did hit the hosts the hardest though.

Not only were Worcestershire denied a chance to press for victory after building up a lead of 133 with nine wickets standing, but they were unable to straighten out their over-rate.

Consequently Vikram Solanki's men were deducted two points for being two overs behind schedule on dismissing the visitors for 251 in their first innings.

Worcestershire now lead their Edgbaston rivals by 16 points and need a further 25 to guarantee promotion.

Day Three

No play on Thursday due to rain.

Day Two

Worcestershire's charge towards the Division Two title was held up by a defiant 88 not out from Jonathan Trott on day two at New Road.

After being bowled out for 339, the league leaders had second-placed Warwickshire reeling at 119-6 midway through a day that saw 16 wickets fall.

However Trott remained defiant, hitting one six and nine fours in his 116-ball innings. He was given able support by Ian Salisbury, who made a rapid 48.

The pair put on 68 in just 12 overs but once the stand was ended the tail folded quickly, Chris Whelan returning to pick up the last two wickets to end with figures of 4-66.

His career-best haul meant the Bears were bowled out for 251 and by the close the hosts had reached 45-1 in their second innings, giving them a more-than useful lead of 133.

Worcestershire had also started the day at the crease, losing their last five wickets for just 47 despite a valiant 60 not out from Gareth Batty.

Vikram Solanki fell just short of a century when he was trapped lbw by Chris Woakes for 91, the Pears' skipper one of three wickets to fall in the space of eight balls. Neil Carter wrapped up the tail to finish with figures of 6-100.

Day One

Vikram Solanki and Daryl Mitchell made half-centuries on day one as Worcestershire snatched the initiative in their crunch LV County Championship match against Warwickshire at New Road.

Solanki followed up the 79 runs made by opener Mitchell by blazing an unbeaten 86 to make sure the hosts remain on top heading into day two.

Warwickshire paceman Neil Carter did his best to restrict Worcestershire's progress by taking 4-67 which included a burst of three wickets for four runs in nine balls.

Carter's first wicket provided the Bears' much-needed breakthrough as he ended a 71-run opening partnership by luring Stephen Moore (46) into a pull-shot which was well held by substitute Tom Allin at mid-on.

Fellow opening batsman Mitchell, a century-maker in his previous Championship innings with 102 against Essex at Colchester, continued his fine form by reaching his fifty with eight fours off 109 balls.

However, just as the 24-year-old looked set to register back-to-back centuries, he perished with the score on 200 as Carter took the first of three quick-fire wickets.

After Mitchell edged through to Tim Ambrose for 79, Ben Smith (1) nicked through to Tony Frost at third slip before former Edgbaston youngster Moeen Ali snicked off first ball.

Steve Davies made 34 before he was trapped lbw by Chris Woakes after adding 52 with Solanki, whose hopes of an opening-day century were thwarted by bad light, followed by rain, after he had hit one six and 13 fours off 176 balls.