Tuesday, July 1st, 2014

Ajmal Five Wicket Haul Earns County First Innings Lead Of 55

Ajmal Five Wicket Haul Earns County First Innings Lead Of 55

Saeed Ajmal completed his fifth haul of five or more wickets in an innings this season to earn Worcestershire a first innings lead of 55 in the LV = County Championship match with Glamorgan at New Road.

The Pakistan spin wizard picked up three wickets this morning as Glamorgan were bowled out for 297 in the 93rd over.

Ajmal finished with figures of 5-106 from 34.2 overs to take his Championship wicket tally to 49 in eight games during 2014.

The lead would have been more considerable but for a last wicket stand of 68 between Michael Hogan (36) and Andrew Salter (25 not out).

Glamorgan resumed on 223-7 and the efforts of Joe Leach and Ajmal quickly reduced them to 229-9.

Leach broke through with the fourth ball of the day when Rory Smith (2) was adjudged lbw.

Ajmal then struck twice in the space of four balls. Mark Wallace (36) fellto a sharp catch by Richard Oliver at short leg and then Dean Cosker (2) was trapped lbw.

But Hogan, who scored 37 and 46 in the corressponding match last season, and Salter held Worcestershire up.

Hogan hit Moeen Ali for sixes over long off and long on before he was finally bowled by Ajmal. Leach (2-70), Morris (1-32) and Ali (1-50) were the other wicket-takers.

Worcestershire began their second innings 45 minutes before lunch and skipper Daryl Mitchell clipped Hogan for four through mid wicket and straight drove Smith to the boundary.

But after making 11 out of 17, Mitchell edged a lifting delivery from Smith and was caught behind by Wallace.

Oliver collected his first bondary from a drive agaInst Hogan as Worcestershire reached 27-1 by lunch – a lead of 82.