Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

County Give Winning Send Off To Ajmal As They Register Sixth Win Of Season

County Give Winning Send Off To Ajmal As They Register Sixth Win Of Season

Worcestershire gave a winning send-off to spinner Saeed Ajmal as they overcame Leicestershire by 204 runs to maintain top spot in Division Two of the LV = County Championship.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell's side secured their sixth win in 11 matches half an hour before tea.

Ajmal was given a standing ovation as he left the field with his seven wickets in the game taking his overall tally to 63 in nine matches.

But seamers Joe Leach and Charlie Morris also played major roles with the ball in this latest victory and the other members of the attack, including Jack Shantry and initially Gareth Andrew, have complimented the Pakistan star throughout his three month stay.

It means the county's proud record of securing maximum bowling bonus points has been stretched to 23 games.

There were also sizeable contributions with the bat against Leicestershire from Mitchell, Richard Oliver, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Leach in another all-round team performance.

Leicestershire, who had been set a 458 target, resumed on 56-2 with Greg Smith unbeaten on 38 and Dan Redfern one.

It was Morris who made the first breakthrough of the morning with his 33rd Championship wicket of the campaign.

Smith on 46 pulled a short ball from Morris straight into the hands of Tom Fell on the mid-wicket boundary with the total on 75.

Redfern clipped Ajmal for two off his legs to bring up the 100th in the 38th over.

Leach came on for Morris whose figures at that stage were 13-7-22-2. Cobb was fortunate when he edged Leach wide of Mitchell at slip when on 17 out of 105-3.

Amal claimed his first wicket when Redfern (29) prodded forward and Kohler-Cadmore held onto the chance at second slip.

Leicestershire were then 113-4 in the 39th over. Cobb and new batsman Niall O'Brien showed plenty of fight as the Worcestershire bowlers probed for more success.

Morris switched ends to replace Ajmal at 149-4.

Leicestershire reached 165-4 off 52 overs by lunch with Cobb on 30 not out and O'Brien unbeaten on 37.

But four wickets in eight overs after the interval turned the game firmly and decisively in Worcestershire's favour.

Leach collected the wickets of Cobb and Jigar Naik to add to his dismissal of Ned Eckersley the previous evening.

Cobb's defiant innings of 30 was ended when he was deceived by a slower ball and gave Leach a return catch.

Then in his next over Taylor (7) nibbled at a ball outside the off stump and nicked through to Mitchell at slip.

Ajmal got in on the act with Jigar Naik (2) caught and bowled and James Sykes (5) bowled after being caught on the crease in successive overs to leave Leicestershire on 198-8.

Morris returned to the attack and in his first over he ended O'Brien's fine knock of 57.

The Irishman top edged a skier and Kohler-Cadmore running back from secnd slip took a fine catch.

Nathan Buck and Charlie Shreck added 47 for the last wicket before the latter fell for 18 when he lofted Shaaiq Choudhry to Leach at long off.