Worcestershire ended their pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi on a winning note as they overcame Middlesex by 77 runs in convincing fashion at the Zayed nursery ground today.
Opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Ross Whiteley both made 90s as Worcestershire topped the 300 mark in the 50 over game.
Then the Worcestershire bowlers effectively worked their way through the Middlesex batting line-up before Joe Leach rounded off proceedings with three wickets in an over.
Kohler-Cadmore and Whiteley came together at 40-2 and featured in a splendid partnership of 180.
James Harris ended the stand at 220 when he bowled Kohler-Cadmore for 93 in the 38th over and the same bowler struck again in his next over when he trapped Whiteley lbw for 97.
Tom Fell again opened the innings and he put on 31 with Kohler-Cadmore before being bowled by Tim Murtagh for 10.
Alex Gidman had scored his first half century for his new county yesterday against Derbyshire but on this occasion he fell to new ball bowler Tom Helm for a duck.
Alex Hepburn, who has been playing for Willetton Dragons in Australia this winter, and wicket-keeper Ben Cox were dismissed for five and 14 respectively to slow left arm spinner Ravi Patel.
Ed Barnard was then run out for 11 – seventh out at 275 – but some late order hitting from Brett D'Oliveira and Leach steered the total past the 300 mark.
Leach (19) became Patel's third victim – although his 10 overs cost 81 runs – with D'Oliveira remaining unbeaten on 36 out of 320-8.
Harris (2-69), Helm (1-72) and Murtagh (1-24) were the other wicket-takers.
Jack Shantry and Leach took the new ball for Worcestershire but it was first change Barnard who made the first breakthrough in dismissing Dawid Malan for 26 with 53 on the board.
England opener Sam Robson was run out for 43 by D'Oliveira at 94-2 and then Nick Gubbins (11) was forced to retire hurt.
Nick Compton, who played one match on loan to Worcestershire in 2013, made 60 before he was trapped lbw by spinner Shaaiq Choudhry.
Shantry returned to the attack and accounted for Ryan Higgins (30) at 197-4 and then two wickets fell for two runs.
Choudhry broke through for a second time when Neil Dexter (39) was adjudged lbw and Ross Whiteley held onto a return catch from John Simpson to leave Middlesex on 221-6.
The run rate was escalating and Whiteley enjoyed a second success as he bowled Gubbins (30) after he had returned to the crease with the total 239-7 in the 45th over.
Then Leach ended the contest in quickfire fashion with three wickets in an over, accounting for Toby Roland-Jones (1), Harris (3) and Helm (0).
Leach finished with 3-39, Whiteley 2-27, Choudhry 2-47, Shantry 1-34 and Barnard 1-43.
