Friday, August 30th, 2024

Hursthouse run out for 99 but helps Academy secure hard earned draw

Worcestershire Academy opener Louis Hursthouse was run out for 99 but played a major role in his side securing a draw in their ECB Under-18 County Championship match with Warwickshire at Barnt Green.

Hursthouse batted for nearly four hours after Worcestershire had followed on 187 behind and struck 10 fours in his 183-ball knock.

When one short of a century he played the ball on the leg side, set off for a single but was sent back and failed to make his ground before the bails were removed.

But it was a splendid effort which helped Worcestershire to recover from 91-4 and they reached 292 all out from 104.1 overs with Warwickshire having no time to start their reply before the game came to its conclusion.

Worcestershire remained unbeaten in the competition with Hursthouse putting on 50 for the fifth wicket with Alfie Higgins (35) and 49 for the sixth with Joe Porter.

He was sixth out at 190 but Porter also showed plenty of defiance in making 60 off 187 deliveries with six boundaries before he was last out.

Porter, who batted for three and three-quarter hours, added 56 for the seventh wicket with Henry Hawes (34).

Warwickshire had elected to bat after winning the toss and totalled 432 in their first innings with six of the top seven scoring between 36 and 71.

Ben Clements (17-2-44-3) and captain Ben Clarke (22.1-5-83-2) were the most successful Worcestershire bowlers.

Worcestershire were reduced to 98-5 in their first innings but number three Nathan Jukes battled away to make 51 off 121 balls and then the last three wickets added 108.

Clarke (42) added 44 with Josh Leach (17) and 30 with Asad Ullah-Azami (34) and then there was a last wicket stand of 34 between Ullah-Azami and Ollie Smith.