Worcestershire gave a massive boost to their chances of remaining in Division One of the LV = County Championship as they overcame Hampshire by an innings and 33 runs at New Road today.
The home side needed four more wickets to seal their second LV = CC win of the campaign after Hampshire resumed on 164-6 in their second innings.
And victory was completed 25 minutes before lunch as Hampshire were bowled out for 262.
Saeed Ajmal (3-72) and Jack Shantry (5-51) shared the final four wickets.
Worcestershire collected a handsome reward of 23 points from the game – three for bowling, four for batting and 16 for a win – to move level on points with Sussex and only one behind Nottinghamshire.
It has been a superb week for Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes' side after the disappointment of losing to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge a week ago.
A double NatWest T20 Blast success over Notts Outlaws and Durham Jets has cemented their place in the top two of the North Group while the win over Hampshire means they are well and truly in contention to preserve their top flight LV = CC status.
Nottinghamshire and Sussex have also still both to visit New Road in August and September respectively.
Saeed Ajmal opened the bowling today from the New Road End and he struck with his third delivery of the day as Gareth Berg (12) pushed forward and was bowled for 12.
Joe Gatting and Danny Briggs put up some resistance during an eighth wicket stand of 53 in 14 overs.
But Ajmal broke through again when Gatting, who reached his 50 off 118 balls with eight fours, was trapped lbw for 59.
The second new ball was taken by Jack Shantry at 230-8 after 82 overs.
Charlie Morris shared the new ball responsibilities by replacing Ajmal who at that juncture had match figures of 8-100 from 46 overs.
It was Shantry who took Worcestershire to within one wicket of victory by bowling Brad Wheal for 10 at 246-9.
And the left armer ended the game when Jackson Bird (10) went for a pull and was caught by Ben Cox off a skier to leave Briggs 42 not out.
