Wednesday, April 27th, 2016

Moeen Hits Superb 100 To Help Worcs Secure Draw With Gloucs

Moeen Hits Superb 100 To Help Worcs Secure Draw With Gloucs

Moeen Ali hit the 15th first class hundred of his career to earn Worcestershire an honourable draw in their Specsavers County Championship clash with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The England all-rounder went to three figures off 106 balls with two sixes and 14 fours.

Worcestershire lost three quick wickets after being set a stiff target of 352 in 63 overs.

Brett D'Oliveira, Daryl Mitchell and first innings century-maker Joe Clarke were dismissed inside the first 14 overs.

But Moeen remained firm as he followed up his first innings 74 with another impressive knock.

The 28-year-old remained undefeated on 136 from 144 balls with four sixes and 17 fours when play was called off with 9.5 overs remaining.

Moeen received support from Tom Kohler-Cadmore in a stand of 74 for the fourth wicket and then Ross Whiteley helped him add an unbroken 87 in 19.5 overs.

Worcestershire finally closed on 210-4 from 51.1 overs and collected 13 points from the match for their efforts – three for bowling, five for bating and another five for sharing the spoils.

Liam Norwell made the first breakthrough when he bowled D'Oliveira (4) and then the same bowler accounted for skipper Mitchell (8) in the same fashion after he shouldered arms.

Clarke (8) got off the mark with successive boundaries off David Payne but they were his only scoring shots before he was yorked by Josh Shaw to leave Worcestershire on 49-3.

Moeen looked in fine form and his first scoring shot was a sublime four through extra cover off Norwell.

A straight drive for four by the England batsman at Norwell's expense brought up the 50 and he then took on a bouncer from the same bowler and picked up six runs over the head of Hamish Marshall.

A second six came over deep square leg off Josh Shaw.

Kohler-Cadmore (25) top edged a short Norwell delivery to mid off with Worcestershire 123-4 and 29 overs still remaining.

But Moeen remained unflustered and a boundary at Kieran Noema-Barnett's expense took him to three figures.

Whiteley ensured there were no further alarms and batted 60 balls for his 21 not out.

There was just time for Moeen to strike jack taylor for successive sixes before the two teams shook hands shortly after 6pm.

Gloucestershire resumed on 217-6 with Chris Dent unbeaten on 81 and Jack Taylor eight after Matt Henry's three wicket burst had raised Worcestershire's hopes yesterday evening.

By lunch the home side had moved onto 357-6 from 98 overs – a lead of 326 – with Dent on 122 and Taylor 101.

The pair safely negotiated the remaining 10 overs before the second new ball was taken at 242-6.

Dent followed up his 180 against Derbyshire last week at Bristol by reaching three figures with two boundaries in an over from Ed Barnard.

The left hander went to three figures off 225 balls with his 13th boundary. Taylor completed his half century off 69 balls with six fours.

Mitchell rotated his bowlers but they were unable to make the breakthrough on what was still a good pitch.

The 100 partnership between Dent and Taylor was raised in 26.4 overs. Moeen came into the attack and conceded 21 runs in his first over of the morning.

Taylor also completed his hundred in the final over before lunch via a six off Moeen. His ton came from 95 balls with two sixes and 12 fours.

The stand was broken shortly after lunch when Kohler-Cadmore held onto a fine catch at mid wicket to dismiss Taylor for 105 off the bowling of Barnard.

The partnership was worth 162 in 34.2 overs. Dent ended undefeated on 138 from 272 balls with 19 fours when the declaration came at 382-7 from 101 overs.

Henry finished with 3-83, Joe Leach 2-77 and Barnard 2-73.