Worcestershire all-rounder Joe Leach made a sensational return to action after injury with a six-wicket haul on day one of the Vitality County Championship encounter with Kent at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Leach finished with 6-52 from 11.5 overs – the second best figures of his superb career – as Kent were dismissed for 171 in 49.5 overs after being put into bat.
It was his 18th five-for in his first appearance since the Championship match against Nottinghamshire at New Road in late May because of a recurrence of a knee problem.
But the determination of Leach to return for the finale of the season in his Testimonial Year paid off handsomely once he had settled into his rhythm in his second spell from the New Road End.
Three wickets in 13 balls undermined Kent’s promising start and they subsided from 73-0 and lost 10 wickets for 98 in the space of 32.4 overs.
Leach was able to move the ball sufficiently to pose all kinds of problems as he took his first class wicket tally for Worcestershire to 462.
There was also an encouraging debut for New Zealand paceman James Hartshorn who bowled an excellent line and length while Leach’s new ball partner Tom Taylor deserved more than his one wicket.
But the bowlers were also backed up by some superb catching, most notably by Rob Jones who held onto four chances at second slip.
Gareth Roderick then spearheaded Worcestershire’s reply with the bat and continued his fine form with a half century.
He closed on 53 not out and Jones 17 not out in a total of 137-2 from 46 overs.
Worcestershire handed a debut to New Zealand pace bowler James Hartshorn after fellow Kiwi Nathan Smith was forced to cut short his spell at New Road through injury.
Captain Brett D’Oliveira, Kashif Ali, Leach and Adam Finch all returned after lengthy spells on the side-lines.
Kent included new signings in pace duo Alfie Ogborne, on loan from Somerset, and West Indian Akeem Jordan.
D’Oliveira put Kent into bat and Tom Taylor bowled a testing opening spell but initial signs were that the pitch was lacking in pace with little movement.
Muyeye adopted an aggressive vein with a succession of boundaries although he was fortunate to edge Hartshorn just short of second slip and twice flashed hard at Finch as the ball flew over the slip cordon.
He completed a 62 ball half century with his 10th boundary but the game turned on its head after Leach switched to the New Road End and picked up three wickets in the space of 13 balls.
Muyeye (56) pushed forward to a delivery which left him and Rob Jones held onto a fine catch away to his left at second slip.
Kent skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond was undone by a similar ball with Ethan Brookes at third slip making no mistake.
Leach had settled into a perfect rhythm and Jack Leaning edged through to keeper Gareth Roderick.
Worcestershire continued to apply the pressure in the immediate post lunch session with three more quick wickets.
Adam Finch, whose first two overs had cost 27 runs, returned and accounted for Joey Evison who drove hard at a ball which nipped away and was caught behind.
Hartshorn picked up his first wicket for the county as Harry Finch cut a delivery which swung away to Jake Libby at backward point.
It became 103-6 when Finch found the inside edge of Ben Compton’s bat and Roderick did the rest for his third catch.
At that point Kent had lost six wickets for 30 runs in the space of 15.4 overs.
There was a deserved first breakthrough for Taylor when Matt Parkinson flashed hard and Jones made no mistake at second slip.
Leach collected a fourth scalp when Grant Stewart went for a big hit back down the ground and had his off stump knocked back.
He polished off the innings in quickfire fashion with Jones holding onto two more sharp opportunities at second slip to dispose of Alfie Ogborne and George Garrett.
Roderick and Libby then provided Worcestershire with an assured start to their innings and the 50 came up in only 11.1 overs.
Roderick went past 500 Championship runs for the campaign as he turned Ogborne off his legs for four and then cover drove the same bowler to the ropes.
The partnership was worth 89 when Libby (30) pushed forward to Ogborne and was caught behind.
New batter Kashif Ali quickly brought up the Worcestershire hundred with a cover drive for four off the same bowler but on 17 he fended a delivery of extra bounce from Jordan to first slip.
Roderick completed a 107 ball half century with seven fours.
