Monday, July 11th, 2022

ANOTHER CENTURY FOR KASHIF ALI BEFORE TOM FELL HITS UNBEATEN 63 FOR SECONDS

Kashif Ali hit his second century in two games for Worcestershire Seconds on the opening day of the Second Eleven Championship match with Nottinghamshire at Notts Sports Club.

He followed his 108 against Warwickshire at Portland Road, Edgbaston, with 106 out of a total of 290-6 from 96 overs by the close.

It took his run tally to 450 in his last five SEC innings, and then Tom Fell hit an unbeaten half-century batting at number seven after being released from first-team duties against Middlesex.

The Seconds were also strengthened by the arrival of seamer Ben Gibbon from the senior squad at Merchant Taylor’s School.

Worcestershire captain, Pat Brown, opted to bat and saw his side lose two early wickets to successive balls from Zak Chappell.

Josh Dell (3) drove hard and was caught at gulley, and then Jacques Banton (0) was caught down the legside from the next delivery.

Kashif was soon into his stride with cover drive and off drives for boundaries off Chappell and a square drive to the ropes off England pace bowler Jake Ball in an opening over costing ten runs.

He was given good support by Rehaan Edavalath during a third-wicket partnership of 79.

Kashif completed a 52-ball fifty before Edavalath, having made 35 off 77 balls, pushed forward to Matt Carter and was caught at short leg.

Oli Cox joined Kashif, and a further 62 runs were added.

Kashif smashed James Hayes for six on the up-over cover as the total moved past the 150 mark.

Cox (21) drove at a wide ball from Hayes and edged to first slip, but a single-off Matt Carter enabled Kashif to reach three figures out of 172-4.

Kashif on 106 aimed a big legside hit at Carter and skied a catch to the keeper, and Henry Cullen (27) dragged a Hayes delivery onto his stumps.

It was then 211-6, but Fell received excellent support from Adam Finch during an unbroken stand of 79 in 36.4 overs.

Fell battled away for 143 deliveries to make 63 not out with six boundaries, and Finch will resume on 27 from 110 balls.