Day 1:
Heavy overnight rain and poor light condition throughout the day meant that no play was possible on the first day of the LV= County Championship match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.
Light rain showers and heavy overcast conditions prevented any play throughout the day with the umpires calling play off for the day just after 5pm.
James Cameron came into the side to open the innings in the place of Matt Pardoe but the full team will be decided at the toss.
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Day 2:
Worcestershire produced a good bowling display on the second day of the LV= County Championship Division 1 match at the Rose Bowl against Hampshire to leave them in a good position at the close of play on the second day.
The delayed toss from the first day meant that West Indian pace bowler Kemar Roach was able to be named on the team sheet to replace Shaaiq Choudhry from the previous match. However it was Roach's new team mates that set the standard with a fine bowling display after Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat first.
Openers Liam Dawson and Michael Carberry got the home side off to a steady start. Richard Jones picked up the first wicket of the morning session when Dawson skied a catch to Alexei Kervezee at square leg for 8. This was the start of a spell of 3-23 for Jones as the Hampshire batsmen struggled on what appeared to be a slow but otherwise innocuous pitch.
Gareth Andrew in particular was in devastating form taking 3-8 from a six over spell before lunch as the home side collapsed to 80-6 by the interval. Carberry scored 24 before becoming Andrew's first victim, caught at the wicket by Ben Scott. Andrew also picked up the key wickets of Nic Pothas (11) and Dimitri Mascarenhas (0) in the space of four balls in a double wicket maiden.
After the lunch interval Chris Wood helped the home side stage a fight back with a hard fought 36 off 53 deliveries, which proved to be the top score for Hampshire. Wood completed the highest stand of the innings, a 7th wicket stand of 48 with Sean Ervine (27). In total the last four wickets were worth 100 tuns as the home side were bowled out for 179 in just under 55 overs. Alan Richardson picked up three of the four wickets to fall in the afternoon session. Roach picked up the final wicket to fall when Imran Tahir edged a catch to Scott. Andrew finished with figures of 3-28, Jones 3-38 and Richardson 3-37.
James Cameron and Daryl Mitchell got the Worcestershire reply off to a watchful start. The opening stand was worth 68 before Mitchell was trapped LBW for 35 in Tahir's first over. Vikram Solanki (26*) then joined Cameron (41*) to take Worcestershire to the close with the score on 112-1, just 67 runs behind Hampshire.
Close of Play Day 2. Hampshire 179. Worcestershire 112-1.
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Day 3:
Worcestershire ended the third day of the LV= County Championship match at the Rose Bowl against Hampshire in a strong position but with still with work to do if they are going to earn a much needed victory to get them out of the relegation zone.
Overnight heavy rain meant a delayed start to the third day with the morning session reduced to just twelve overs. By lunch Worcestershire had improved their overnight score to 135-1. However after lunch Worcestershire suffered a collapse as they went from 135-1 to 141-6 within 4 overs. Five of the wickets were claimed by Chris Wood taking 4-8 in his five over spell after lunch, finishing with figures of 4-35. James Cameron was the first wicket to go, caught at 2nd slip by Liam Dawson for a hard fought 48 after a defiant innings lasting 159 deliveries. The next five batsmen scored only five runs between them in a middle order collapse.
A 7th wicket stand of 43 between Ben Scott and Vikram Solanki brought a bit of stability to the Worcestershire innings and allowed them to creep past Hampshire's first innings score. Imran Tahir returned later in the session and took the last four Worcestershire wickets to finish with innings figures of 5-29. Worcestershire were eventually dismissed for 204, earning a valuable bonus batting point and a slender 1st innings lead of 25.
Vikram Solanki produced yet another vital innings for Worcestershire in another class batting display. Solanki was left unbeaten on 79* by the end of the innings and in doing so passed 1,000 First Class runs for the season.
With tea taken between innings 44 overs remained to be bowled in the day as Hampshire started their second innings. Worcestershire made the breakthrough in the 5th over when Kumar Roach trapped Dawson LBW for 11. The Worcestershire attack dominated the Hampshire batsmen taking wickets at regular intervals as the home side finished the day on 84-6. Nic Pothas and Dimitri Mascarenhas produced the largest partnership of the innings so far with 25 for the 6th wicket. The partnership was broken with Gareth Andrew taking his 3rd wicket of the innings trapping Pothas LBW for 16.
Shortly afterwards bad light brought an early close to the days play. Worcestershire will hope for early wickets and a fair weather forecast if they are going to push for the win that would lift them clear of the relegation places.
Close of Play Day 3. Hampshire (179 & 84-6) lead Worcestershire (204) by 59 runs with 4 second innings wickets remaining.
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Day 4:
Worcestershire endured a frustrating final day at the Rose Bowl as the LV= County Championship match against Hampshire ended in a draw with only 12 overs bowled on the final day.
Heavy overnight rain meant the outfield was damp but further problems were caused as water had seeped underneath the covers on the cut strip part of the bowler's run up at one end of the ground. This made the track unplayable until it had dried out sufficiently to allow the pace bowlers to bowl. With one brief shower during the day as well play was not able to begin until 4:20 in the afternoon.
With only 26 overs available in the day Worcestershire had to strike quickly in order to take the remaining four Hampshire wickets and have enough time for a run chase. When play did eventually start the Hampshire batmen Chris Wood and Dimitri Mascarenhas started strongly, scoring 29 runs in the first two overs. Wood in particular played confidently quickly reached his maiden First Class 50 in just 37 deliveries, finishing on 56*.
By the time last hour was reached Hampshire had extended their lead to 132 runs and with no wickets taken the captains shook hands and the match was drawn. The result lifts Worcestershire out of the relegation places but only by two points but with a game in hand over the team below them.
Hampshire (179 & 157-6 dec.) drew with Worcestershire (204)
Hampshire 6 points. Worcestershire 7 points.
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