Day 2
ANDREW AND MOEEN HELP COUNTY SECURE MAXIMUM BOWLING POINTS
Worcestershire picked up maximum bowling points for the second successive match after a impressive and disciplined performance on the second day of the LV County Championship match with Kent at New Road.
Gareth Andrew (4-42) and Moeen Ali (3-43) returned the most successful figures as Kent were dismissed for 229 in 96.5 overs – a first innings lead of just five runs.
But the whole of the the home attack deserve immense credit for bowling a tight and disciplined line which restricted the scoring opportunities as Kent scored at just 2.36 runs per over.
By the close Worcestershire openers, skipper Daryl Mitchell and Matt Pardoe, had taken the total to 41-0 in untroubled fashion.
Kent resumed on 39-2 and right from the outset were made to work hard for their runs with the opening Worcestershire pair of Charlie Morris and Jack Shantry setting the tone for the day.
Worcestershire achieved their first success when Brendan Nash (3) pushed forward to Shantry and Tom Kohler-Cadmore made no mistake in holding onto the edge at first slip.
The 15 overs in the first hour from Morris, who made his County Championship debut against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl, and Shantry yielded a meagre 21 runs.
The 50 partnership between Daniel Bell-Drummond and Ben Harmison came up in 23 overs with the former reaching his 50 off 124 balls with five fours as Kent lunched on 106-3.
Worcestershire struck three important blows during the afternoon session.
Harmison was fortunate on 18 when edging Morris for four past diving wicket-keeper Ben Cox and Bell-Drummond on 54 survived a confident shout for lbw from the same bowler.
But Moeen's second over after replacing Shantry resulted in Bell-Drummond being trapped lbw for 61 after sweeping. It ended a stand of 81 in 39 overs with Harmison.
Darren Stevens played some aggressive shots and his 23 contained five boundaries. But Moeen struck for a second time when Stevens prodded forward and was also adjudged leg before after adding 40 with Harmison.
The new ball was taken in the 81st over and Worcestershire enjoyed further success through Andrew. The all-rounder accounted for wicket-keeper Sam Billings lbw for 13 with the total on 181.
Harmison reached a determined 50 off 192 balls but Worcestershire wrapped up the innings by claiming the last four wickets for 21 runs.
Andrew bowled James Tredwell (15) and then the same bowler was indebted to a superb one-handed catch above his head at mid off from Moeen to dismiss Harmison for 55.
Robbie Joseph (4) fell lbw to Andrew and the innings ended on 229 when Mitchell Claydon was bowled by Moeen.
