Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

County Bowlers Strike And Force Follow On After Superb Innings From Mitchell

County Bowlers Strike And Force Follow On After Superb Innings From Mitchell

Worcestershire dominated with bat and ball after enforcing the follow-on on the second day of the LV = County Championship clash with Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

The Division Two leaders extended their first innings from an overnight 299-7 for 395 all out and claimed four batting points thanks to a magnficent 167 not out from skipper Daryl Mitchell and support from the lower order.

Then the county's four pronged pace attack and spinner Shaaiq Choudhry dismissed Gloucestershire for 156 – a lead of 239 – with Mitchell McClenaghan making an impressive Championship debut and bowling with plenty of pace and aggression.

It enabled Worcestershire to extend their record of claiming maximum bowling points to 24 consecutive matches.

Gloucestershire were left with five overs after being asked to bat again and lost skipper Michael Klinger to Charlie Morris – caught behind by Ben Cox for five in reaching 10-1.

McClenaghan took the new ball in Gloucestershire's first innings and in a seven over spell either side of lunch returned the excellent figures of 2-9 from seven overs.

He made the first breakthrough when former Worcestershire player Klinger edged a lifting delivery and wicket-keeper Cox took a superb catch one-handed high to his right in front of first slip.

McClenaghan struck again when Will Tavare (2) was beaten for pace and bowled by a delivery which came back into him.

Charlie Morris shared the new ball and played a key role in Gloucestershire losing two wickets in two balls as they were reduced to 15-4.

Morris picked up his 35th Championship wicket of the campaign when Will Gidman (9) had his leg stump knocked back by a ball which swung in.

Then the Worcestershire paceman deflected a straight drive from Ian Cockbain onto the stumps at the non-striker's edge and ran out Hamish Marshall before he had faced a ball for a duck.

Joe Leach and Jack Shantry came into the attack and the latter struck for his 35th victim of 2014 when Will Gidman (18) turned him into the hands of Tom Fell at leg slip.

Leach made it 60-6 when Cockbain's back foot defensive push looped up to Mitchell at second slip after he had made 25.

Spinner Shaaiq Choudhry was introduced into the action and he picked up his first wicket when Benny Howell gave him the charge and was stumped by Cox for two.

It became 68-8 when Adam Rouse was trapped lbw by Morris for three. The Gloucestershire ninth wicket pair of Craig Miles and Tom Smith provided resistance during a stand of 54 in 12 overs.

Shantry broke the partnership when Miles (29), who survived one chance off McClenaghan when on four, lofted a ball that held up to Morris who held onto a good low catch at mid off.

The innings was wrapped up when Liam Norwell (18) pulled Leach into the hands of Morris at fine leg to leave Smith unbeaten on 41.

McClenaghan finished with 2-21, Morris 2-46, Shantry 2-28, Leach 2-17 and Choudhry 1-39.

Mitchell had resumed on 102 not out after blunting the Gloucestershire attack on the opening day which ended with Worcestershire on 299-7 from 96 overs.

But today he showed the other side of his game with an array of attacking shots and, with good support from the lower order, earned the county two more batting bonus points before they were bowled out for 395.

It was the third time that Mitchell had carried his bat after his 70 not out against Sussex in 2007 and unbeaten 135 against Warwickshire in 2012.

Shantry showed positive intent in picking up two early boundaries before he was bowled by Craig Miles for 21.

Mitchell was struck on the helmet by Will Gidman when on 105 but then cut loose.

He twice lofted Gidman over mid wicket for four and slashed Liam Norwell over the slips to bring up the 350 and secure a fourth batting bonus point.

Mitchell was given good support by McClenaghan in an excellent partnership of 61 in 11 overs for the eighth wicket.

The stand ended when McClenaghan (18) gave spinner Tom Smith the charge and was stumped.

Mitchell continued to attack and he reached his 150 off 283 balls with 22 fours and then for good measure he lofted MIles over square leg for six.

Morris (0) got his head down while another 26 were added for the last wicket before he was adjudged lbw to Will Gidman.

Mitchell left the field to a standing ovation after another monumental knock spanning more than seven and a half hours.