Sunday, April 9th, 2017

County Complete Warm-Up Programme With Innings Victory

County Complete Warm-Up Programme With Innings Victory

Worcestershire warmed up for their Specsavers County Championship opener with Glamorgan by gaining an innings and 42 runs victory over Leeds-Bradford MCCU at Weetwood after lunch on the final day.

The students resumed on 132-4 and were dismissed for 249 with Peter McDermott unable to bat because of injury.

Charlie Morris and Brett D'Oliveira both finished with three wickets for Worcestershire who visit the SWALEC Stadium on Friday.

But there were positive contributions from the majority of players with either bat or ball throughout the three days.

Joe Clarke and Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored centuries and D'Oliveira, Tom Fell and Ben Cox weighed in with fifties.

In addition all the bowlers had a good work-out including John Hastings who sent down 21 overs on the opening two days – his first match bowl since patella tendon surgery in December.

It completed the warm-up programme put together by Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes which encompassed warm weather training in Abu Dhabi but also sufficient cricket in this country to become accustomed to conditions.

The main resistance for Leeds-Bradford today came from Craig Wallace who remained undefeated on 75 from 139 balls with one six and seven fours.

D'Oliveira made the first breakthrough of the day at 190-5 when Jack Potticary was caught by Josh Tongue at mid off.

Nine runs later Tongue held another chance in the same position – this time off the bowling of Morris – as Max Maciver (3) perished via a leading edge.

Morris struck again in his next over when Daniel Houghton (8) was caught behind by keeper Ben Cox at 209-7.

The innings was wrapped up during the afternoon session with Seb Feszczur-Hatchett (16) and Oliver Bocking (2) bowled by D'Oliveira and Daryl Mitchell respectively.

Morris finished with 3-36 from 12 overs and D'Oliveira 3-70 from 24 overs while Joe Leach -1-33 from 10 overs, Jack Shantry 1-18 from 13 overs and Mitchell, 1-6 from 2.4 overs also got in on the act.