Worcestershire are promoted back to Division One of the LV County Championship after defeating Surrey by 27 runs at New Road today. Surrey lost eight wickets for 67 runs in the post lunch session after being 122-2 in pursuit of a 217 target. Jack Shantry and Moeen Ali picked up seven wickets between them before Alexei Kervezee ran out Zafar Ansari to seal victory for the home side.
It was the signal for wild scenes of celebration from skipper Daryl Mitchell and his side as they made sure of going up with a match to spare. Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes dedicated the victory former Academy Director Damian D'Oliveira who sadly passed away mid-way through the season.
Worcestershire bowled with plenty of discipline and accuracy and restricted Surrey to 92 runs from 30 overs during the morning session. But in the overcast conditions the visitors batsmen were largely untroubled and only lost the wicket of Vikram Solanki – bowled by Charlie Morris for 58 – in the pre-lunch session.
It was all to change after the interval in such dramatic fashion. Shantry returned to the attack and dismissed Steven Davies (14) who pushed forward and was caught at first slip by skipper Daryl Mitchell. Shantry struck again in his next over when he bowled Surrey skipper Gary Wilson for a duck.
It became three wickets in 16 balls when Jason Roy (5) was caught and bowled by Moeen The England all-rounder then accounted for Aneesh Kapil (2) who played back and was bowled by a delivery which kept low to leave Surrey on 144-6. Ex Worcestershire spinner Gareth Batty struck four quickfire boundaries. But after making 16 he was undone by a flighted Moeen delivery and bowled with the total on 164. Shantry picked up his third wicket when Stuart Meaker (4) played back and was bowled.
The 26-year-old completed his first 10 wicket haul in a match when he trapped Matthew Dunn lbw for a duck. Then it was all over when Zafar Ansari was run out by Alexei Kervezee's direct hit from mid off after attempting a quick single. REACTION TO FOLLOW
