Worcs post 308 at Grace Road

Date: Tuesday 04 May 2010

Matthew Hoggard and Nathan Buck each took three wickets as Worcestershire made 308 on the first day of the LV=County Championship game at Grace Road.

In reply, Will Jefferson and Matthew Boyce had to see off a highly awkward passage of play. The pair negotiated the twelve deliveries sent down and County closed on a total of nine without loss.

Hoggard bowled well throughout a day of hard work in taking 3-69 from 26 overs. The skipper picked up the key wickets of Moeen Ali - who looked in great touch in making 80 - and Daryl Mitchell, who ground out a stubborn 56 from 123 deliveries.

They were the mainstays of the visitors' innings. Despite their 145-run partnership for the third wicket, County reduced Worcs to 199-6 during the afternoon session.

However, Gareth Andrew (53), Alexei Kervezee (32) and Richard Jones (21 n.o.) then combined to add some useful runs as Worcestershire recorded a decent total on a good cricket wicket.

Earlier in the day, Leicestershire welcomed Hoggard back into the four-day side after illness and Jacques du Toit was also named in the team. They came in for Josh Cobb and AJ Harris.

Worcestershire named former Leicestershire favourite Ben Smith in their team, while Matt Mason missed out with injury. Vikram Solanki won the toss and opted to bat first on a sunny morning and Phil Jaques and Mitchell opened the innings.

There was certainly a bit in the pitch and the Australian was an early casualty when Buck (3-64) struck an important blow. The youngster enticed the overseas batsman into a drive and he dragged the ball onto the stumps.

That bought the skipper to the crease and Buck whipped one past the outside edge with a beauty. Hoggard also beat Mitchell with a jaffa and both opening bowlers were getting lovely shape with the new ball.

Solanki got the scoreboard moving with a tremendous whipped stroke over mid-wicket that flew for six. It was a fine stroke but he was the next man to fall when getting a leading edge off his opposite number to Claude Henderson at mid on.

At that stage the visitors were 15-2 but Mitchell was battling away and the in-form Moeen joined him at the wicket. The pair turned the session on its head, with Mitchell playing carefully and Moeen continuing to look dominant at the wicket, as he has done all season.

The left-hander elegantly glanced backward of square for his first boundary. A sweetly-timed drive bought Moeen another four and he repeated the stroke when Wayne White entered the attack.

Moeen glanced another four and after White and Andrew McDonald had spells, Henderson was introduced for an early bowl. McDonald then switched to the Pavilion End as he adjusted to his new surroundings.

The Australian all-rounder had a leg-before shout against Moeen but the ball struck the batsman a fraction high. Mitchell then pulled for four and Moeen played a lovely straight drive off the spinner that went to the ropes.

He followed that up with a powerful sweep that went for four and a similiar stroke that cleared the ropes. Henderson opted to go around the wicket but Moeen bought up his half-century from 60 balls with another sweep. He hit seven fours and a six in the process.

Mitchell then hit three fours as seven boundaries came in the space of two overs. The 100 came up and Hoggard reintroduced himself from the Bennett End as he looked to regain control.

Moeen drove off the back foot for four and the stand passed 100 but Hoggard and McDonald dragged the run rate back before lunch. The duo took the team in on 116-2 and the Foxes continued to strive for a breakthrough after the interval.

White had a big appeal for leg-before against Moeen and Mitchell drove uppishly at Buck. The opener then clipped off his pads to bring up a 93-ball fifty with eight fours.

The opener was fortunate when the ball came off leading edge and found a gap but he and things were certainly happening. Hoggard then bought himself back on and immediately gained success by trapping Moeen leg-before for 80.

It was an important breakthrough and ended the 145-run stand. Kervezee was in at five and County put the batsmen under the cosh.

Runs were harder to come by for the visitors although Kervezee did launch into two superb cover drives. The pressure told as Hoggard claimed his third wicket when he trapped Mitchell leg-before for a patient 56.

That bought Smith to the wicket and he received a good round of applause from the members. Henderson returned for a second spell and he got Smith out leg before for eight in his fifth over. That left the score on 186-5.

Hoggard was doing a grand job from the Pavilion End and was now into his twentieth over. He then took a well-earned breather having taken 3-44.

Kervezee was determined to take on Henderson and hit two fours after using his feet. County were plugging away though and the returning McDonald picked up a wicket immediately when getting Ben Scott to nick behind.

Andrew is a useful lower-order batsman and he joined Kervezee at the wicket. The pair got through until tea with the score on 219-6.

Andrew played a nice stroke through mid-wicket and the partnership was getting a little frustrating for the team. It was now past 50 and the visitors had their second bonus point for good measure.

County needed a wicket and got one as McDonald, who bowled tidily throughout, took the seventh wicket with the score on 250.

It came courtesy of Jefferson, who took a stunning diving effort at a wide slip position. The fielder dived to his right and clung on to pocket a brilliant one handed catch.

It was a great catch and White then put in a fiery burst down the hill alongside McDonald, who continued to be steady. Hoggard immediately took the new ball with Buck but Andrew and Jones - who is also a handy batsman - both hit good shots that went for four.

Andrew moved to a 76-ball fifty. He struck nine fours and a six, which bought up the milestone. It was developing into a fine knock but Buck did the trick by having the left-hander caught by White at point for 53.

Alan Richardson was also dismissed by the youngster as he edged to Tom New. Jones and Jack Shantry took the score beyond 300, although the left-hander was then trapped leg-before by White to end the innings.

That left Jefferson and Boyce with a couple of nasty overs but they saw them out. Jefferson added a driven four for good measure and the deficit was reduced to 299. It sets up an interesting day tomorrow.