Friday, April 23rd, 2021

IMPRESSIVE SECONDS CELEBRATE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP WIN OF THE SEASON

Worcestershire Seconds are celebrating their first victory of the season in the Second Eleven Championship after overcoming Somerset Seconds by 269 runs at Taunton Vale.

The County wrapped up victory in the final session of the four-day fixture when bowling out the home side for 217 in 82 overs.

Worcestershire collected 23 points for their fine performance – 16 for winning plus four batting and three bowling bonus points.

They dominated the game throughout, and there were many plus points for Seconds Head Coach Kadeer Ali to savour after Worcestershire secured the win with 20 overs to spare.

Five batsmen scored half-centuries in the first innings – including captain Ross Whiteley – and there were two fifties in the game for wicket-keeper batsman Alex Milton.

Josh Tongue continued his comeback from injury with match figures of 8-103 from 35 overs, but the whole attack played their part in twice dismissing a strong Somerset side.

Somerset resumed on 52-2, and Tongue made the first breakthrough of the day as Lewis Goldsworthy (18) edged a delivery that left him, and Milton pulled off a fine low catch.

An early lunch was taken, which resulted in the loss of 14 overs with Somerset 96-3.

When play resumed, Will Smeed completed an 82-ball half-century which contained nine fours and a six.

But he added only two more runs before being bowled by Mitchell Stanley at 118-4, and the Milton-Tongue combination struck again when accounting for James Rew (12).

The County keeper claimed his fourth catch off the innings at the second attempt after George Thomas (14) pushed at a delivery from spinner Euan Woods.

Worcestershire required four wickets for victory after tea, and the first ball after the resumption brought another breakthrough as Sam Young (44) was lbw to Bragg.

George Drissell (8) went back to Euan Woods and was leg before Bragg wrapped up proceedings.

Sonny Baker (4) was another lbw victim, and then Matt Foster (9) had his off-stump knocked out of the ground.