Sunday, May 3rd, 2015

Leach Enjoys Double Success As County Build On Morris Wicket Burst

Leach Enjoys Double Success As County Build On Morris Wicket Burst

Worcestershire made further inroads with the ball as they looked to capitalise on Charlie Morris's superb new ball spell on day one of the LV = County Championship clash with Somerset at New Road.

Morris was rewarded with four wickets and figures of 11-2-34-4 in a 95 minute burst of top quality pace bowling from the Diglis End after Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell had elected to bat.

Then the recalled Joe Leach weighed in with two wickets and there was one for spinner Sachithra Senanayake as Somerset reached 212-7 off 64 overs by the tea interval.

Morris dismissed Marcus Trescothick, Johann Myburgh, Tom Cooper and Jim Allenby and received rapturous applause when he finally came out of the attack.

Worcestershire made two changes from the side in action at Sussex with Ross Whiteley and Joe Leach replacing Tom Kohler-Cadmore and the injured Gareth Andrew respectively.

Trescothick had collected two boundaries in the opening over from Jack Shantry at the New Road End.

But after making 10 he gloved a lifting delivery from Morris through to county keeper Ben Cox who held onto a good low catch.

Tom Cooper hooked Morris for six and a straight drive for four off the same bowler raised the half century. But without addition to the score, he pushed forward to Morris after making 11 and Cox held onto a good catch in front of first slip.

Morris then removed Cooper and Jim Allenby in successive overs. Cooper (30) aimed an expansive drive at Morris and Cox claimed a third catch.

Then Allenby(7) pushed forward and Mitchell safely pouched a good low catch at second slip.

Morris had taken three wickets in 15 balls for 10 runs before finally taking a well earned breather and being replaced by Whiteley.

Somerset reached 98-4 off 29 overs by lunch and either side of the interval James Hildreth and Alex Barrow added 61 in 23 overs.

But then the wickets started to tumble again.

Senanayake followed up his six wickets at Hove by accounting for Barrow (26) who pushed forward and nicked through to Mitchell at slip.

Then in the next over Hildreth (41) edged a delivery that left him from Leach and Cox collected his fourth victim of the innings at 134-6.

Peter Trego became Leach's second victim after making 14 when he tried to get out of the way of a short ball but the ball hit the bat and was pouched at second slip by Mitchell.

Somerset were then 169-7 but Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton lifted the total past 200 in the 59th over.