Day 4:

Worcestershire took two balls to take the final Hampshire wicket on the final day of the LV= County Championship at New Road. Imran Tahir returned a simple caught and bowled chance to Shakib Al-Hasan with no addition to the overnight score of 269. This gave Al-Hasan figures of 3-85 for the innings. The wicket prevented Alan Richardson the chance of recording a 10 wicket match and he had to settle for match figures of 9-114.

This gave the home county a target of 106 runs to win with a minimum of 93 overs left in the day. Openers Daryl Mitchell and Matt Pardoe made a solid start, knowing they did not have to take too many risks but with one eye on the weather. The openers made 62 before Pardoe was caught at short leg by James Adams for 19.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell reached his second half century of the match, to go with his six slip catches, as the home side reached their target with no further loss of wickets just before lunch in just under 25 overs. Mitchell was unbeaten 57, after cutting loose at the end of his innings with a total of 8 boundaries in his innings, including the winning runs. Worcestershire won by 9 wickets, and scored maximum points, to record their first ever back to back victories in Division 1 of the Championship.

Result: Worcestershire (403-8 dec. & 108-1) beat Hampshire (239 & 269) by 9 wickets.
Worcestershire 24 points. Hampshire 3 points.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW THOMAS